Enugu Govt Suspends Amechi Awkunanaw Monarch

….Community Kicks, Faults Action
by Cosmas Chukwu

The Enugu State government has withdrawn the Certificate of Recognition of Igwe Anthony Ogbodo Okorie as the Traditional Ruler of Amechi Awkunanaw Autonomous Community in Enugu South Local Government Area of the state, over the unfortunate breakdown of law and order in the community.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters, Dr. Charles O. C. Egumgbe, the state government condemned the persistent crisis pervading Amechi Awkunanaw Community, and expressed dismay that “attempts at bringing peace to the community have been stone-walled”.

Dr. Egumgbe told suspended Igwe Okorie that law and order have indisputably broken down in his community leading to injuries to persons and property, stressing that “the situation if not checked may exacerbate the present security challenges in our land”.

The Commissioner pointed out that the actions and inactions of Okorie in the crisis were inconsistent with section 15 (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) and (j) of the Traditional Rulers Law Cap 141, Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004.

“In consequence therefore, and pursuant to section 10 (a) and (b) of the Traditional Rulers Laws, Cap 141, Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004, the Government of Enugu State has suspended your recognition as the Igwe and Traditional Ruler of Amechi Awkunanaw Autonomous Community,
Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State this Tuesday, October 5, 2021”, Dr. Egumgbe said, adding: “Take notice that your suspension shall subsist pending the conclusion of investigations and aftermath”.
A chagrined Igwe Okorie who was invited by the r commissioner in his office on Tuesday only to be handed the suspension letter, told newsmen that the government’s claim that its action was based on the security crisis in his community was not true as there was no outstanding security crisis in his domain.

He said: “The commissioner told me that there is security crisis in Amechi but that is not true. I told him that there is no security crisis that is outstanding. In our security meeting, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Awkunanaw who is in charge of Amechi has not reported any serious breach of security in Amechi. The DSS also came to my palace in Amechi and never reported any serious breach of security in Amechi.

“I told them that the issue causing problem in Amechi community is landed property. The community wanted to recover their land, former Satellite Press. That is the issue and the matter is in court. I told the commissioner that since the matter is in court, the court should be allowed to decide who is the rightful owner of that land. But since it is a predetermined decision, they had already written the letter (suspension) before inviting me. The people of Amaechi should keep calm as justice must be done and at the end God will take the glory.”

Also reacting, the President-General of Amechi Awkunanaw Community, Hon. John Egbo, faulted the suspension of the royal father, saying “the government of Enugu State must have been misled by people who are interested in hijacking the community’s land, which they had percolated and started selling.”

“They are not only selling the Satellite land belonging to Amechi Community, which it donated for overriding public interest of building an industry, but when that industry is no longer operating there, the land should be returned to Amechi community to decide what to do with their land. That is the right thing to do,” he said.

Continuing, the Town Union President said: “The second part is that the sane people causing this problem are overzealously selling Amechi land. They have also sold the compound of the Civic Centre at Amechi community. The same group sold the land illegally and guess what, everybody in that group is keeping quiet because of their vested interest in selling Amechi land. The good thing is that the matter is in court and it is not a chieftaincy matter.

“We have a Town Union issue which we are in court trying to resolve but a Town Union issue is not a chieftaincy problem, so there is no need for chieftaincy ministry to get involved. Igwe has never breached any security or threaten peace in the community. So, his suspension is a surprise to us and we want to say categorically that Amechi Community is solidly behind the Igwe and you can see that from the large number of indigenes that came to the ministry in solidarity with the Igwe today. “

Egbo, however, advised Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuany to set up a panel to investigate the issue of land grabbing in Amechi Awkunanaw and reverse without delay the suspension of the traditional ruler to ensure peace in the community.