Two warring Abia communities resolve 11 years conflict

  An 11-year-old strife, which erupted between two communities in Abia, following the carving out of Umudike-Ukwu Autonomous Community out of Umudike in 2003, has been finally laid to rest.

The inter-community crisis, which was characterised by litigations, ended on Monday with the formal admission of the maiden traditional ruler of the new Umudike-Ukwu, Eze Ben Oriaku, into the Ikwuano Council of Traditional Rulers.
The brief ceremony, which held at the palace of the traditional ruler, was attended by all the traditional rulers in Ikwuano Local Government Area, including that of Umudike, Eze Onyekwe Anyaegbu.
In his speech, the Chairman of the council, Eze Godwin Chionye, urged the traditional rulers of the two-sister communities to bury the hatchet and collaborate to move their communities forward.
Chionye described the two communities as one and admonished them to initiate actions and measures that would promote peace, unity, understanding and cooperation between them.
Other traditional rulers, who took turns to advice the communities, including the immediate past Chairman of the council, Eze Joseph Obaji, said that the creation of autonomous communities was meant to
bring development down to the rural communities.
They urged the two communities to see themselves as one and to put the 11-year-old misunderstanding behind them and work harmoniously toachieve rapid development in their area.
Responding, Eze Oriaku said that he had already initiated peace moves with the Umudike community by visiting the traditional ruler, Eze Anyaegbu, who he referred to as his ‘’father’’ and ‘’business associate.’’
‘’I have always respected Eze Anyaegbu, who I regard as my father, we are not quarrelling and we cannot quarrel and many people do not know that we are business associates.
‘‘Umudike Ancient Kingdom remains one, the carving out of Umudike-Ukwu, notwithstanding’’, he said.
He assured the people that he would work hand-in-glove with members of his cabinet to bring rapid transformation to the area.
In an interview with the  Daily Indepedent, Eze Oriaku explained that trouble started in 2003, when the former Governor Orji Kalu carved out Umudike-Ukwu from Umudike Autonomous Community.
He explained that the creation of the new autonomous community was challenged in an Umuahia High Court and the Appeal Court, Owerri, respectively by Umudike but expressed joy that the two judgments were in favour of Umudike-Ukwu.
On his part, Eze Anyaegbu also told our corrspondent that he would work hand-in-hand with Eze Oriaku for the development of their communities, pointing out that they were still one entity under Umudike Ancient Kingdom.
Highlights of the ceremony included the presentation of the new President-General and Secretary-General of Umudike-Ukwu, Chief Philip Ukaonu and Onyemauchechi Ukoh, respectively.
Awards of Community Leadership were also presented to Eze Chijioke Chionye of Otu-uzo, Ihim Autonomous Community, Eze Christopher Ejirika of Awonnebo Autonomous Community and King Larry Agwu of Ajata Na-Igwu Autonomous Community.
Other recipients of Honour’s Awards were Eze Joseph Obaji of Agumba Autonomous Community and Eze Chiananti Okiyi of Agbala-Ozu Autonomous Community, who were recognised for their peace initiatives during the crisis.