•After years of conflicts over traditional stool, peace returns to Amana, Ebonyi community
From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The people of Amana autonomous community in Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State are now enjoying relative peace after boundary dispute between them and their Oha-Nkwu neighbours in the local government and a protracted tussle over the traditional stool of the community.
The traditional ruler of the community, Kenneth Nworie, died in 2014 and since then, peace eluded the area as interest on the stool became a serious one.
As the community was tussling for the traditional stool, it was also fighting with its Oha-Nkwu neighbours over boundary matters until Governor Francis Nwifuru stepped in and resolved the boundary crisis.
Attempt by some members of the community to replace the late monarch polarized the area.
The people insisted on electing candidate of their choice for the stool and rejected those members of the community that wanted to impose themselves on them.
Several meetings held in the community for the stool did not yield any fruits.
Then, the community continued to manage its affairs like a family without a head, or a ship without a captain. The hurricane wind came to the community like a thunderbolt when Abakike, the senior kindred of the community asked Obegu, its junior to produce the next traditional ruler of the community.
The decision of Abakike raised dust among the Obegu kindred which went into the archives and unearthed things. This further made the enthronement of a new traditional ruler a difficult task.
But history was made recently when the people buried their differences and elected their new traditional ruler, Clement Nweke Nwoga.
Nwoga polled 560 votes to defeat his opponent, Zachaeus Nwennewor who scored three votes.
The election was conducted by Alphonsus Nwali, Chairman of Ezza South Coronation Committee and was witnessed by the state ministry of local government and chieftaincy matters as well as security agencies including the police.
After the election, Nwoga was coronated by elders of the community.
The President of Amana Town Union, Felix Nwabueze commended the people for the peaceful election of Nwoga, describing him as the right choice of the community.
He expressed happiness on the peace that now exists between the community and its Oha-Nkwu neighbours after years of crisis.
A member of the community, Mrs. Helen Ngwuta said Nwoga’s election and coronation were transparent and peaceful.
She prayed God to endow the new traditional ruler with wisdom to rule the community like King Solomon.
Another resident of the area, Friday Alegu said: “As you can see, we came out en mass to crown our king because we want peace and unity, we want progress in the community.
“I am expecting good rulership, I am expecting sincerity, unity and peace in the community. These are what I expect from our new traditional ruler.”
The new traditional ruler told Daily Sun that his people have confidence in him and promised that he will not disappoint them.
He further assured that the community will maintain peace under his rulership.
Nwoga commended Governor Nwifuru for restoring peace to Oha-Nkwu which had ushered in peace in Amana community and promised to sustain the peace: “The peace will be sustained because I know my people have listening ears. When I call them, they will listen to me. The peace will stabilize, the youths of the community are very loyal to me and I believe they will hear me.
“There will be no problems between our neighbouring communities and our community hence the government has come and demarcated the place, we are very happy that we can live in peace.
“So, I thank the Governor for making this possible and I will maintain the peace and sustain it to the later.”