The discovery of Oil in any community or state of the nation is supposed to be a thing of joy to all and sundry in such area. In Nigeria context, the reverse is always the case, as it was witnessed in Umukpo Agwa, Uworie Autonomous Community, Oguta LGA, Imo State, when the entire community was plunged into what could be described as civil war, on the 17th of January, 2008, shortly after the discovery of oil in the community in 2007.
The rest may be said to be history but the scare of the wreckage left behind by the war in the community in terms of property and lives that were lost are unquantifiable.
Recently, a new traditional ruler in the person of HRH Eze Dr. Albanus Ozuruoha, Eze Chinyereugo 1 of Uworie Agwa Autonomous Community in Oguta LGA of Imo State, has emerged. Courtesy of the magnanimity of His Excellency, the executive governor of Imo State, Chief Anayo Rochas Owelle Okorocha, in his quest to ensure peace, unity and stability among communities of the state.
In order to drive home the expectation of the state governor, an umbrella body known as Umukpo peace intervention league (UPIL) in Uworie Agwa Autonomous Community has in its recent stakeholders meeting held at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church premises, Umupo Agwa on the 21st of April, 2014, reiterated on the need to have total peace and reconciliation in the community.
Presenting his address on behalf of UPIL), a body that is made up of engineers, media practitioners, therefore, business men, among others, Engr. Anthony I. Ahamefule said the meeting was of dual purposes, as it offered them the opportunity to launch a peace day in Umukpo and to jubilantly welcome their new Eze, HRH Eze Dr. Albanus Ozuruoha, Eze Chinyereugo 1 of Uworie Agwa Autonomous Community.
Ahamefule disclosed that one of the objectives of UPIL was to put together every matching machinery that will restore the lost glory of their community, pointing out that the group is a non-political, non-discriminatory, but a peace loving and patriotic body that has come to ensure that absolute peace is returned and sustained in Umukpo.
In his words: “We have looked at the past, present, and have peeped into the far and near future of our land and have seen the need that except we come together, like this, as a front and arrow head to contribute ideas, our wealth of knowledge and resources to move our community forward, we may continue to chase shadow”.
“We have the determination and courage as a concerned team not minding the cost, to ensure that meaningful progress is made towards the mark of absolute peace, unity and development in Umukpo”.
Engr. Ahamefule who identified high level of literacy, lack of knowledge of God, indiscipline or social menace, lack of regard for personalities and neglect to the ethical and cultural values on the part of the youths, as bane to the development and crisis that rocked the community.
He further called on parents, all and sundry to ensure that goodwill, justice and equity, transparency and best practice be the guiding principles for a better future of the community.
UPIL spokes person also lauded the long and peaceful reign of Late HRH Eze Ejimaduekwu Ifi, Oguefi of Uworie-Agwa Autonomous Community and the subsequent reign of the Regent and however, suggested for other names that could replace the name, Umukpo like: Umuorie, Isiobodo, Ugwumba or any other good name that should be generally accepted when prayer is administered. He added that the degree of youth restiveness in the community must be condemned and checked forthwith.
In his contribution, Patron Paulinus Oforegbu, a member of UPIL, said that they will continue to preach for peace in the community and called on those that aspired for the position of ezeship in the community to embrace the new Eze of the community in the interest of peace.
Patron Oforegbu was optimistic that the reign of HRH Eze Ozuruoha will bring a divine change in the area, while urging Eze Ozuruoha to continue in his quest to carry everyone along.
Responding on security issues in the community, Mr. Felix Onyewuchi, Mr. Linus Ubah, Victor Alozie, Vitus Bekee, Godday Asagwara, Oliver Mbachu, Nicholas Nnanna, Comrade Blaise Elumezie, DSP Cajethan Onwusor and Christian Onuoha among others, harped on the need for parents to call their children to order, not to fall prey to the dire consequence that will await offenders or violators of the principles that will be put in place at the end of the day by UPIL, and the need to have a well defined procedures in place for community office holders.
However, HRH Eze A. Ozuruoha, who spoke on the late intervention of UPIL as regards the crisis that ravaged Umukpo, promised to work with whatever document that UPIL will come up with at the end of the day.
Eze Chinyereugo who reiterated on his divine mandate to move and restore all the lost glory and opportunities of Uworie people, through the help and grace of God, warned not to condone any act of insubordination by person(s) that may tend to distract the divine mandate that has been given to him to move Uworie Autonomous Community to the promised land. ###
Blaise Elumezie
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