By Victor Bieni
Abah Unor Community Elders Forum has again presented its stands to the Executive Governor of Delta State, Sen. Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa on the brewing Community crises as a result of Kingship tussle between two of their sons: Prince Young Ezeana and Innocent Maduabunachukwu as the group urges the State Government to allow court of competent jurisdiction to determine the original heir to the throne for peaceful Coexistence in the agrarian Community, even as the group also frowned at the shortchange of their original Community Vigilante Group members.
The elders in a five pages protest letter to Delta State Government which was duly signed by the most elderly persons from the four quarters of Abah-Unor Community, which Included amongst others:Diokpa Johnson Nwanochie of Ogbe-uzu quarters, Diokpa Chukwuji of Umushu Quarters, Chief Isaiah Nwokolo of Ugboko quarters, and Mr. Christopher Okoh of Idumu- Ugbo Quarters, which was backed with other documentary evidence of both pending court cases and certified security Certificates issued to their original Community Vigilante Group after being trained by the Nigeria Police Force, also certified by the LG Authority is attached therein, the protested Alleged purpoted plot by Aniocha South LG Authority in connivance with Innocent Maduabunachukwu to get the men replaced with people with questionable character in their Community.
The Community elders while Commending the State Government peace and security Initiative which they said is in line with the stronger Delta Agenda mantra of this present Administration, then asked Governor to listen to the voice of wisdom and allow court of competent jurisdiction to determine the heir apparent to the throne to avoid throwing the Community in crises if the news going round the state that the Directorate of Chieftaincy Affairs, Asaba, Delta State in a letter addressed to Innocent Maduabunachukwu that he had been approved by the Government as the Monarch of Abah-Unor Community without being issued Staff of office, that recently Delta State Government warned some persons who are yet to be recognized not to parade themselves as such.
Abah Unor Community Elders Forum also frowned at the Government for not being magnanimous enough to come and investigate the crises rocking the area to know how peace could be restored through its various Institutions or Agencies and Departments in charge of peace-building, conflict Management and rural Community Development, while restating its Committment to peaceful Coexistence amongst the Community members if due process is followed by all and sundry or the needful is done.
The group also protested the alleged plot by Innocent Maduabunachukwu in Connivance with Aniocha South LG Authority to mutilate their Community Policing Projects, that is shortchange the original Community Vigilante Group members and get them replaced with people of questionable character, with various Criminal records, who are already in the Abah-Unor Community Security watch Documents, who are not known to the Abah-Unor Community, the Divisinal Police Authority, Local Government Authority and the State Government as Vigilance group in the area as new lists brought by their late Obi son, Innocent Maduabunachukwu, that one of those in the lists is his own immediate younger brother, who was recently published in the state media as a security threat to our Community, the elders added that this new ugly situation is another security threats to their domain, then use the opportunity to call on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to Intervene to avoid further crises in the Community.
The press Statement reads in parts: “The case between Prince Young Ezeana and Innocent Maduabunachukwu was to be heard on 26th April, 2020 for the first time . This was before the Outbreak of global Coronavirus pandemic. It was adjourned to 14th May, 2020 but the Lockdown as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, Court could not hear the case. The third time the case was to take place on the 26th of August, 2020 but the Judge did not show up. No doubt, both the Substantive suit and the court injuction were yet to be fixed, which made court not to hear the case. That the case is yet to be called up does not mean that the case is withdrawn. Please His Excellency Sir, take note of this!”.
“It you can use as our reference points some of our various media reports and legal documents attached to our protest letter to the Governor. It was so disheartening to hear that Delta State Government had approved the Kinship of Abah-Unor Community and that a staff of office was to be given to Innocent Maduabunachukwu recognizing him as Monarch in a purported letter dated August 17th, 2020 by the Directorate of Chieftaincy Affairs, Asaba, Delta State, when the case is still in the court of competent jurisdiction. Kingship and Rulership is not by Force. It must go with the consent of Community stakeholders and interest groups as true Monarchical system, not Government by dictatorship”.
“His Excellency Sir, our Community has refused the purported move by Innocent Maduabunachukwu to put the Community in a security stalemate, porosity as Nsukwa DPO stated in the last meeting we held with him recently. Our original Community Vigilante Group is eighteen members, while those our late Obi son, Innocent Maduabunachukwu is shortlisting eight members with Criminal records who are not members of the Community Vigilante Group. He is currently liason with Aniocha South LG Authority to get our Vigilante Group, Community Policing Projects jeopardized, shortchanged, replaced with his cronies”.
“Basically, all we need is peaceful Coexistence and Sustainable Socio-economic development amongst our people. His Excellency for this reason we Appealled to caution his exuberances and find lasting solutions to the Present crises in Abah-Unor Community for growth and development to thrive amongst our peace loving people”.
