The People of Laguru Autonomous Community in Ubakala, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State,have cried out over the reign of impunity currently going on in Laguru community, where one Chief Amaechi Cyril Ucheaga,was wrongly presented staff of office, as the Eze elect of the community by past administration.
The issue which they said have lingered for over eleven years, despite attempts by community leaders to correct the anomaly, continued to brew dichotomy and crisis in the Laguru community.
In a Press Conference held recently, the community spoke through their leaders, calling on the government of Dr Alex Otti, to wade into the traditional rascality going on in the community, for the purpose of peace and tranquility.
The President General of Laguru Community, Hon Omerenma Andrew Ogbonna, expressed frustration over the ongoing ezeship tussle in the community,stating that it is abominable for the last son of Laguru to contend the ezeship stool while the elder son is yet to assume the stool.
According to Ogbonna, the Laguru community is made up of three zones,namely,Umuorihe(The first zone), Azuemume(second zone) and Ama-ato(third zone) and each zone produce candidates for ezeship rotationally.
He said the foremost traditional ruler of Laguru Community, emanated from the first zone, Umuorihe and after his demise in 2013, he said the community mourned him for one year as stated in the constitution.
The President General said when it was time for the community to produce another monarch, the traditional prime minister,who was supposed to conduct the process of selection,also died,adding that the community equally mourned him for another one year. Thereafter, a new traditional prime minister was picked in the person of Chief Paul Ukomadu.
Hon Ogbonna stated that since the community operate a rotational system in choosing their traditional head, it was the turn of the second zone to produce the next king.
According to him, the community came together and unanimously elected Chief Brown Ngadi Anozie, being the oldest person in Azuemume zone as the new Eze elect.
He said the community proceeded with the processes and presented the Eze elect to the Umuahia South Local Government Area.
In his words,”Barely few days after we presented Chief Anozie to the Local Government Area, Chief Cyril Ucheaga was equally taken to the Local Government Area by some group of people who do not mean well for the community. Because of the close relationship Chief Cyril Ucheaga had with the then Secretary to the Abia State Government,Barr Chris Ezem, Mr Ucheaga was presented with the staff of office, without due consultation with key stakeholders within the community.
“We did everything within our powers to stop him from parading himself as the Eze elect because Laguru never chose him, but all efforts proved abortive. We went to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, to lay out complains,but all our files were stomped down. We thereafter went to High Court Umuahia and judgement was given in our favour. According to the Judgement, the chairman of Umuahia South was instructed to recognize and forward Chief Brown Ngadi Alozie’s name to the Governor and staff of office presented to him.
“Unfortunately, they never obeyed the court judgement, they went to appeal for state of execution. The Appeal court has not sat for one day on this matter.
“All we are saying is that the Staff of office be withdrawn from Chief Cyril Ucheaga and given to Chief Brown Ngadi Anozie as ruled by the Court, pending the judgment from the Appeal court. If the Appeal court rules in the favour of Chief Ucheaga,then we will withdraw the Staff from Chief Ngadi and present same to Chief Ucheaga. It’s as simple as this”.
The President General lamented that for the past eleven years, the community has faced numerous challenges due to the lack of a leader. He stated that this absence of leadership, has led to underdevelopment, security threats, and other pressing issues.
He added that the government should intervene swiftly before their youths would go on rampage over the prolonged tussle, adding that they have exhausted all mechanism in keeping them peaceful, recounting that Laguru Community which used to be a peaceful community, was now crisis ridden, calling on the government of Dr Alex Otti,whom he described as forthright and disciplined to wade into the ezeship tussle in the community, giving the stool to the rightful person.
The Traditional Prime Minister, Chief Paul Ukomadu, who gave the traditional implication of the ongoing tussle, said the Laguru community would not be forced to compromise it’s cultural heritage.
According to him, the third zone cannot produce the next Eze of Laguru while the second zone was yet to produce.
He vehemently rejected the process, describing it as a spite to their culture and tradition.
“The person appointed lacks the respect and lineage traditionally required to hold the esteemed position of Eze, which has been a symbol of authority and unity in the Laguru community for years now.
“We are deeply concerned about the appointment of a person who does not represent the interests of our people. This decision was made without due regard for our customs and traditions and we believe it was influenced by external factors that undermine our cultural heritage,” he said.
Also, the Vice President of Ubakala clan and former President General of Laguru Autonomous Community, Chief Charles Ngwakwe, said they can’t sit idly by and watch their revered stool being trampled upon by political miscreants.
According to him, the process that produced Chief Cyril Ucheaga was marred by irregularities and disregard of their cultural heritage, stating that the previous government wrongly selected an individual who does not meet the necessary traditional criteria to serve as their traditional ruler.
Chief Ngwakwe noted that apart from being off the zone whose turn it was to produce the next Eze, said, Cyril Ucheaga lacked the respect, character and lineage traditionally required to hold the esteemed position of Eze, alleging that Chief Cyril Ucheaga involves in extortion, exploitation of his subjects and other despicable acts.
“The position of Eze Elect is not only a ceremonial role but also plays a crucial role in resolving conflicts, promoting unity and representing the community in various state and national affairs. Appointing a person who does not have the community’s trust could lead to social unrest and division”,he said.
However,he called on the State Governor, the Member representing Umuahia South at the State House of Assembly, the Mayor of Umuahia South Local Government, to help save Laguru community from the impending danger by retrieving the staff of office from Chief Cyril Ucheaga and present it to Chief Brown Ngadi Anozie,so as to avoid repercussions.
Meanwhile, Chief Brown Ngadi Anozie in his opinion,appealed for the right thing to be done. He said the tussle has lingered with its negative effects on the community.
He said since the community as a whole agreed to the rotational system of their ezeship stool, it would be grave injustice to allow the third zone produce the Ezeship candidate when the second zone was yet to take its turn.
Chief Brown Ngadi Anozie, while calling on the state government to step into the matter, having exhausted all available means known to them, said already, the community is faced with great developmental challenges because it has no leadership. “Laguru community is far behind compared to other communities in Ubakala. It is only the government that can help us, that is why we decided to use the media to pass our message. This wrong doing needs to be corrected for the sake of our children yet unborn”.
Chief Anozie added that among the six items in the judgement order given by the High Court in Umuahia, none has been obeyed. Expressing optimism that the government would investigate the matter to ensure that justice is served in accordance with the rule of law and the traditions.
As the controversy grows, the Laguru community remains hopeful that Governor Otti will take swift action to address their concerns and restore the dignity of their traditional institution.
