Maduako Igbokwe l Tuesday, September 20, 2022
AWKA, Anambra, Nigeria – Umuchukwu Community of Orumba South Area, Anambra State has called on governor Charles Soludo and security agencies to beam searchlights in their area to avert imminent eruption of crisis.
President General Umuchukwu Progressive Union, Mr Emeka Adinchzor made the call while addressing Journalists in Awka Anambra state on Tuesday .
Our reporter gathered that some members in Umuchukwu Community had recently staged a protest to Government House Awka during which they brandished placards showing their grievances.
According to Adinchzor ,few months ago some section of Umuchukwu Community had resorted to using the outlawed name of the town in publications of burial posters, banners and other public notices.
He said that such actions were intended to ignite crisis in the community, stating that if not checked will lead to serious crisis.
“Before, we used to answer Nkerehi, but after a religious crusade we held in our community about 16 years ago, we resolved to change our name to Umuchukwu. The process eventually led the state government to conduct referendum for us in April 2007 which resulted in the adoption of Umuchukwu as our new name.
“Regrettably, some people in spite the fact that Umuchukwu is already gazetted and recognized by successive administrations, still address the community as Nkerehi.
“Some people write the old name in burial posters, banners and other inscriptions positioned for public viewing, and the perpetrators even go about boasting in town that nothing would happen to them”, he said.
The Community leader said if urgent action was not taken by Government and security agencies, the situation might snowball into a full blown communal crisis.
According to him, some members of the community had officially protested to Soludo during our recent protest to the government house which the Chief of Staff received us on behalf of the governor.
He said “We are using this medium to appeal once again to the state government to stop listening to those calling themselves Nkerehi Community because their actions could result into crisis if not checked.
Chief of Staff to Soludo, Ernest Ezeajughi had during the protest advised Umuchukwu people on the need for peace in the community. He said, regrettably some people were promoting acts capable of slowing down development in their communities and warned that government would not fold arms to watch such people.
Ezeajughi said, in the case of Umuchukwu/Nkerehi the matter shall be referred to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for treatment.
