Leadership tussle: Imo community insists on rule of law

Leaders of Eziama autonomous community, Isiala-Mbano council area of Imo have insisted on the rule of law as it awaits a court decision on its pending leadership and other issues.

This is contained in a release jointly signed by the community’s President-General, Mr Patrice Unogu; Women President, Mrs Gift Ehochi, and Youth President, Mr Tochukwu Ekwegh, and made available to newsmen in Owerri, on Saturday.

The leaders said that the community, historically and constitutionally identified as the Eziama Bond of Peace , is a peace loving and progressive people whose antecedent for rule of law is without a doubt.

The leaders also said that the position of President-General in the community which has been subjected to litigation is currently pending before the Imo High Court in Suit No. HMU/63/2024.

The leaders noted that any effort by an individual or group to preempt the court would amount to contempt, hence the need for members of the community to avoid taking laws in their hands.

They said that the Court will among other things, establish if the traditional ruler has the right to disband a duly elected town union (Eziama Bond of Peace) and appoint a President General?

The Court is also expected to determine whether the traditional ruler has the right to change the name, ‘Eziama Bond of Peace’, borne by the community for over 80 years on the grounds that the community has become an autonomous community.

“ We appeal to the peace loving people of Eziama Autonomous Community to avoid taking laws into our hands no matter the level of provocation.

“ We call on the Executive Chairman, Isiala-Mbano LGA, the state ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and all law enforcement agencies in the state to please take note and help avert the looming communal crisis.

“ We are peaceful leaders hence the need for this public complaint and information “, they said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a leadership tussle rocked the community following the decision of the traditional ruler, Eze Ishmael Anyadiegwu to appoint a President-General even as the elected President-General, Mr Patrice Unogu had yet to complete his term in office.

Unogu who was initially elected for a four year term in April 2017 was returned unopposed for a second term in year 2021 following the completion of his first term in office as President-General.

The community’s stakeholders have however rejected the move , describing it as “unconstitutional an aberration of democracy, rule of law “ and an insult to the consciences of those who democratically voted a leader.