Ibeku town union crisis: Ukaebu group dissociates self from peace accord

www.odogwublog.com reports that the leadership crisis rocking the Ibeku Egwuasa Development Association ( IEADA) deepened yesterday as Chief Princewill Ukaegbu faction dissociated itself from a peace accord " purportedly brokered last week by the paramount ruler of Ibeku land, HRM Eze Samuel Onuoha ( Ogurube 4 of Ibeku).

Ibeku clan which comprises 15 autonomous communities that play host to Abia seat of power has been polarized over the leadership of IEADE.

Chief Emeka Enyazu and Chief Ukaegbu both lay claims to the presidency of the town union, a matter that has become an object of litigation.

The Ukaegbu group in a press conference yesterday at Nkata Town Hall, Umuahia, insisted that Ukaegbu is the authentic President General of IEADE, dismissing any other person laying claims to the seat as " impersonator".

Former Special Adviser on Media to ex- Gov. Theodore Orji, Chief Joshua  Ogbonna, who read a prepared speech of the group urged members of the public to discountenance the purported reconciliation.

According to him, Ukaegbu has the certificate of incorporation and the seal of the association, hence, anybody laying counter claims should be disregarded.

Some of the signatories to the speech include former Abia Speaker, Sir Stanley Ohajuruka; the immediate - past President General of IEADE, Chief Onwunaruwa Onuoha; Chief Uche Akwukwaegbu; Chief Israel Nwosu; Chief Moses Emenike , among others.

The speech read in part: " For the avoidance of doubt , there was no peace settlement meeting ever held in Ibekuland, rather, what transpired was that those who were sanctioned and ostracised by the Ogurube- in- council for desecrating the land went to Ogurube to beg for pardon, and appeasement of the gods of the land.

" Let no one be deceived, the purported peace settlement did not take place. All that was done was a mere plea for readmission of those who had despised the stool of Ogurube and shown repentance, and had begged Eze Samuel Onuoha for forgiveness; and this cannot be taken to mean ceding the presidency of IEADE to Emeka Enyeazu".

The group warned government against associating with any IEADE executive other than the one led by Ukaegbu to avoid plunging the community into chaos.

" Government should not recognise anybody as IEADE other than Ukaegbu or it will be creating a problem it may not be able to solve".

They also warned politicians not to politicise the leadership of IEADE - a cultural association that that looks after the interest of Ibeku people at home and abroad.

" Ibeku is not for sale and the days of imposition are over , and so, anybody pushing for the recognistion of any other person through the back door other than Ukaegbu as the President General of IEADE is stoking the fire of disunity in Ibekuland", it warned.

Asked if the group was disappointed with Ogurube for attending the " purported peace accord", Ogbonna said the monarch was at liberty to reconcile with those who offended him.

On the position of traditional rulers over the crisis, the group said the will of the people as well as IEADE was superior to that of the royal fathers who also derive their powers from the town union.

Photo of Orimili Atata Ibeku