New Igwe Elect Of Nteje Vows To Tackle Land Grabbing Issue, Restore Peace ….Stated Readiness For Human Capital Development
By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha
The new Igwe elect of Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State, Igwe Christopher Okechukwu Nnebo has vowed to ensure that the long lingering issue of land grabbing and land transactions which have resulted to crisis in the community will be tackled, harmonized and thereby restoring peace in Nteje Community
Making the disclosure in his country home at Nteje, Igwe Nnebo stated that the recent crisis in the community was an attempt to deny Ifite village their right in producing the next Igwe against the guiding constitution of Nteje Community.
According to the Monarch,” For the matter of fact, there are guiding constitution in Nteje, that is the constitution being followed all this while that brought the emergence of Igwe Sammie Nnaemeka of Ezi Nteje, then came Igwe Roland Odegbo, it is now the turn of Ifite Nteje.
“The communities that made up Nteje is Ezi Nteje, Ikenga and Ifite Nteje, and we are at the third, being Ifite, everything was followed as required by the constitution of Nteje because it is the guiding principle.
“The elders of Ifite stood firm, saying that it is the turn of Nteje, the process took a year plus to put things together while some were kicking against it so that it will not happen because somebody believes he can always have his way, it went on until the election took place
“We were eight in number that contested, i got 50 percent of the votes while others shared the other 50 percent, it is a journey of doing it supposedly, it is people that elect their leader not government, the government only do certification
Igwe Nnebo waved the alleged claim by few people that Late Igwe Odegbo’s reign should not be counted saying that the Late Igwe Odegbo was accorded full right as Igwe Obodo, enjoyed all his entitlements to the end, had a certificate, never revoked or withdrawn, so Ikenga have had their turn, people have to elect their leader, that is what brought my position I am today as Igwe elect
“We know that Late Igwe Odegbo started his reign during Governor Peter Obi to Governor Willie Obiano, I think his death was during the preparation of the election that brought Governor Charles Soludo.
On his message for those who said that Odegbo’s reign should not be counted, he said “Sometimes people can be misguided based on one’s interest, we have deeper issues around, serious infiltration of illicit sell of community land.
“There are a whole lot of factors that played out, there have been transactions, but it will be harmonized, nothing greater than dialogue no matter how difficult the situation is, it involves the community.
“In the years back, similar situations have taken place in Nkpor, Ogidi, Onitsha, we can borrow ideas from the experiences they have to know how to manage ours, Nteje will not be an exception” Nnebo posited.
On inclusive government, Igwe Nnebo disclosed that he will always include other contestants that lose out and to embrace peace, noted that peace is immeasurable, peace brings development, love and harmony.
“The paramount position is that Nteje must get to the level it deserves, all hands must be on deck, anybody with ideas, concerted efforts will take us to our desired destination as Ndi Nteje.
On the human capital development, the new Igwe elect assured of their potential, full of ideas and experience, basic infrastructure developments, hospital adding that human development is one of the key areas they must prioritize.
He said,”We don’t believe in talking but doing, In practical terms, things you do will relate to ideology I am known for, I will engage them, when I can put millions is when I see something meaningful, what I can do is to show you how to fish, not how to eat because when that person becomes economically independence, you see a whole lot of problem solved.
In his new year message, Igwe Nnebo assured that Nteje will rise again with the help of activist Jude Achebe, a human right activist, adding “We have the progressive minds that tomorrow you must invest in the future, we know with the projecting of what we are seeing, tomorrow will be bright for all sons and daughters of Nteje
In their separate remarks, Chiefs Linus Uchefuna, (Ichie Ikedinaekpere) pointed out that Igwe selection in Nteje was a zoning process, harmonized in a way that it will not cause problem in the community but frowned at the attitude of some people who due to selfishness and long throat want to go contrary to the guiding principles of the community.
Ikedinaekpere advised Ndi Nteje to keep to the guiding principles for long life, adding that he still not understand why some people are insisting that the Late Igwe Odegbo reign should not be counted without given cogent reason to Ndi ichie
Eugene Ubagu, (Ichie Ibollo Abogu) condemned some people stance that without them the community will not move forward, he recalled that the same played out when the community wanted to elect their President General
“The issue of election of Igwe shouldn’t bring division in the community. We are looking up to the government to do the needful since Ifite Nteje whom it is their turn had selected somebody to be Igwe Nteje and he will be the Igwe”Ubagu assured.
