…Lauds govt for establishing 15 security personnel in state’s communities
By Coleman Anaele
The Traditional ruler of Egbelu Obube and Chairman, Owerri North Council of Traditional Rulers, Imo State, His Royal Highness, Eze Chidi Jude Nwaogu( Chidiebube 1) disclosed that twenty-one(21) communities in the LGA have existing and functional local security formations known as vigilante group that have been in operations all the while.
The traditional ruler, who is also the Secretary, Owerri Zone Council of Traditional rulers made the remark over the weekend in a meeting that evolved on security related issues, female genital mutilation and other sundry issues with the delegates of Owerri North Practicing Journalists ‘extraction’ led by Mr Coleman Anaele while on a courtesy visit at his Palace in Ugakwoche community in Egbelu Ebube.
The Royal father who spoke with confidence, asserted that Owerri North Council of Traditional rulers which he is currently chairing has been proactive in ensuring that the established vigilante formations in the 21 communities across the LGA are operational, functioning and working in one accord with each other across the board by way of checkmating the criminal elements from encroaching the environments as well as the boarder forests with their next neighboring communities to avoid being taking unaware by the invading bandits.
Eze Nwaogu who also earned to himself a prestigious recognition as the Chairman, Imo State Community Justice Center Steering Committee on his role for Safety,equity and Justice for humanity.
He explained that Owerri North is one of the improved areas in the State in terms of Security concern which has not recorded any of such bandits invasion, adding that the vigilante formations and proactiveness of other stakeholders have secured the place from such encroachment.
He regreted that Owerri West as a component part of Owerri Zone has flash points of these criminal elements that are invading the Communities .
He added that Ngor-Okpala is currently signalled as one of the flash points , which shares a boarder with his community, noting that it was as a result of this ugly trend that compelled him to establish forest guards whose duties are to comb thoroughly the nearby forests with their neighbouring communities to ensure non of these criminals are giving any sleep.
In ensuring the bandits and other criminals do not invade or overwhelm the local security formations, Eze Nwaogu commended the effort of Governor Hope Uzodinma for the recent establishment of fifteen-man(15) Security personnel appointed in every community across the state aimed at complimenting the efforts of the existing local securities in place.
The enthused Royal father added that, currently the 15-man security personnel are undergoing training which will qualify them to be equipped properly and be on the government pay roll.
He expressed satisfaction that it will assist tremendously to beefup the existing vigilante group efforts and make them work in synergy to bust any suspecting flash point.
He insisted that, insecurity is a major concern to human existence which has transversed across many environments that must not be allowed to continue to spread like wild fire, instead a proactive solution should be adopted to address it generally.
The Chairman, Council of Traditional rulers, Owerri North however, debunked any rumour either in form of allegation or accusation pointing towards some traditional rulers or any anywhere suspected to be aiding and providing soft landing for these bandits and criminals to operate in their domain to unleash terror on those they are supposed to protect, which he termed most inhuman if at all such may exist, and asserted that the person was not qualified to be an Eze of his people.
“If what I heard like any other person on the social media platforms that some traditional rulers are using this ugly trend to enrich themselves by accommodating these evil elements and aiding them; honestly, it will be termed most unfortunate. Though I can’t vouch for anybody. But if there is anything like that going on in some places, the culprits and their accomplice should be apprehended and exposed for all to know.
Otherwise such Traditional ruler is not qualified to be the Eze.
“What it means is that such Eze has automatically exposed and sold his people to the criminals.”
The Monarch however admitted it was only heard on social media.
“I read such allegations and accusations only on the social media platforms like any other person,adding that no one has come out categorically to expose the culprit(s) for the public to be aware.
Reacting to the female genital mutilation practice, Eze Jude Nwaogu recalled that the law promulgated to stop the wicked circumcision in the state is already functioning, noting that any parent or parents presenting their female children for genital mutilation if found will face the weight of the law, both the parents and whoever is carrying out the mutilation.
He also recalled that the Mnistry of Women Affairs and Youths Development in the state had in recent past visited his domain when a sensitization/ enlightenment campaign was delivered to the women folk with assistant of his Ugo Eze( Eze’s wife) against such practice and the danger such act would be inflicted on the female victims, noting at was an outdated practice that does not conform with the modern day medical practice as it affects human health.
He noted that the established law is already functioning and warned parents and those carrying out such practice to desist, and added if caught, they will not escape the weight of the law, which is punishable.
On infrastructural development, the Egbelu Obube Mornach, beaming with smiles attributed the colourful appearance the community is wearing to the humanitarian and philanthropic services of one of their illustrious sons, Prince(Dr) Alex Mbata (ABM ), who single handedly executed the rehabilitation/ tarring of the road that connects Egbelu Obube to his home town of Mgwoma Obube with installed street solar energy that illuminates the road even at dead nights.
The traditional ruler expressed happiness that his community is wearing city look, that even spurred the people to continue commercial activities till a certain hour in the nights. He noted that with such development which is helping the security to patrol every nooks and crannies of the community.
He added that such has contributed to the elevation of the socio-economic activities of the people.
He also called on the people’s representatives to look inwards in their various community by way of contributing meaningfully to the wellbeing of the people.
He asserted that , if Prince Alex Mbata who was not holding any political position could do that from his hard earned resources, therefore the political class should inject the people’s common wealth for the benefit of those they are representing so as to compliment the state government’s infrastructural strive.
Whether the people’s representatives do consult with the traditional rulers council for the common interest of their constituents, and how often?
In his reaction, Eze Jude Nwaogu admitted there had been an impediment which has not allowed the Council of Traditional rulers to function as it should be, despite the fact that a legislation law recognises the role of the traditional rulers, according to the act 2010 on establishment of Autonomous Community and Chieftaincy Affairs as amended.
He expressed dissatisfaction, that despite this establishment that recognises them in the law, the Monarch regretted that there has never been a clear legislation that has been given any clearcut recognition of the roles the traditional rulers are entitled to in the scheme of things in government hierarchy.
He said they only meet on a general note with other stakeholders whenever there was need for that.
He remarked that it is common act that whenever any person intends to aspire to any political position, that it a common tradition that such individual should visit first the traditional ruler of his domain for identification and to enable such persons to have a broader knowledge of the yearnings of the people before moving to the broader scape so that such individual we have the ideas on how best to fix the challenges when elected or selected as the case might be.
He noted, why it is important is for the benefits of the people they are going to represent or govern, but not necessarily for the gains of the traditional rulers.
Instead they( political class) will choose to visit us only when they seek for reelection after that they will disappear only to resurface in the three years towards another election.
He admitted that some of the people’s representatives have at few occasions responded to their calls on the issues that affected their communities.
“Our major interest as traditional rulers is to ensure the public office holders bring governance to the common person, to the people they are meant to represent and not for our personal gains the reasons we have to call on them.”
Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the delegation, Mr Coleman Anaele told their host, HRH, Eze Chidi J. Nwaogu that they were in his domain to ascertain the level of security measures being put in place and how the traditional rulers under his chairmanship position and other various positions or bodies he belonged to have been complimenting government efforts in that regard.
Anaele also informed him of their desire to work in synergy with the traditional rulers Council by giving the maximum cooperation deserving for the safety of our people. Moreso, by drawing the people closer to their traditional rulers among other things.
In his vote of thanks, Mr Vincent Aghaolu thanked the Royal father, for welcoming us to have such a parley meeting with him despite his tight schedule, while wishing him more fruitful years ahead on the revered throne, in addition to the eighteen (18)years already attained as the traditional ruler this December, and prayed God to give him sound health and wisdom.
