Anambra State Government has commence reconciliation process to end leadership crisis at Nimo community in Njikoka Local Government Area of the State.
ANN gathered that the community has been in crisis over the suspension of three elected executive of Nimo Town Development Union (NTDU), sales of ancestral land known as Ana-Owa land and other social challenges confronting the community.
The reconciliation exercise which took place at the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) conference hall, state government House Awka, on Wednesday.
Addressing the leaders, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matter, Hon. Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, said for peace to reigned again in the community, the town union leadership has to pilot it affairs separately from the traditional institution.
According to him, the town union leadership are not advised to take their matters to the Igwe’s palace for any discusion and the Igwe, his cabinet on their part, should only advised them and not to involved, and that is what the State Government Constitution said about the community matters
Nwabunwanne, said according to the NTDU leadership, the three executive of the Union were suspended for embezzlement. He, however, said with the maturity and understand displace here today by the aggrieved factions, it is an indication that the matter will be finally resolved amicably in the next adjourned sitting.
He warn them to stop using social media platforms to address issues concerning customs and traditions of their community and also to stop further sale of the Ana-Owa land that happen to be the major cause of the leadership crisis rocking the town.
The Commissioner, informed the people that the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under his watch will not allow any community and it town union leadership to hinder the ongoing development agenda of governor Chukwuma Soludo in making Anambra livable and prosperous state in Nigeria
Dr. Valentine Oliobi, one of the suspended second Vice President General of the community, who spoke on behalf of others, called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to wade into the leadership crisis rocking the community to avoid further breakdown of law and order
Oliobi argued that three of them were suspended for standing for the truth after series of peaceful protest to address the situations including land grabbing for the good of all citizens and non-citizens residing in NIMO community and not embezzlement as been mentioned above.
Oliobi, while tendering his apology before the Commissioner Nwabunwanne, the Traditioner ruler of the town, his cabinet and the entire people of Nimo community, appealed to the Commissioner to compel the NTDU to restate them back to their position for the sake of peace, unity and development of the community.
“We want endurance peace in Nimo community. We want good things to come to our land. Development can not thrive with out peace and unity. Please help us to achieved this.
The Monarch thanked the state government for it quick intervention on the matter, noting that he and his cabinet were fully in support of the reconciliation process.
In their separate speeches, the President General of Nimo Town Development Union Mr. Ekenana Okafor-Omabu, the NTDU legal adviser, Chief Peter Afuba (SAN), Barrister Okafor and one of the youth leader, Mr. Aniedobe Chigbo, appealed for normalcy to be restored in the community.
