ENUGU— THE people of Uwani-Umuoka Autonomous Community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, on Sunday, celebrated Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for restoring an age-long leadership dispute between them and their old community, Umuoka.
The visibly elated people of the community who came out in their numbers to receive Governor Ugwuanyi stated that the governor’s swift intervention in resolving the eleven-year long Kingship dispute in Umuoka town by approving their request for the creation of Uwani-Umuoka Autonomous Community saved lives and destruction of properties in the communities.
It would be recalled that Ugwuanyi recently resolved a similar age-long communal dispute between Oruku and Umuode communities in Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state and finally restored peace in the two communities.
Disclosing that successive governments could not resolve the dispute between them and Umuoka town, the jubilant people of Uwani-Umuoka community noted with delight that “Governor Ugwuanyi’s intervention in the imbroglio immediately restored the desired peace in the two communities which have been battling with an age-long irreconcilable differences that have almost consumed both of us.”
Speaking during the governor’s visit to Uwani-Umuoka on Sunday, the traditional ruler of the community, HRH Igwe Dr. Uche A. Alugwu and the President-General, Hon. Barr. Ibezim Onwukwe, on behalf of their people, expressed their deep gratitude to the governor for “this miracle which your wisdom has ushered us.”
In futher appreciation, the community, through its traditional ruler, Igwe Alugwu, conferred Ugwuanyi with the Chieftaincy title of “Ogboo-ogu 1 of Uwani-Umuoka” (the person who resolved the dispute in our community), noting that the governor is the first person to be conferred with a Chieftaincy title in the community after its creation.
According to Igwe Alugwu, “Our dear community has always demonstrated our support for you by giving you our block votes in your first and second term elections. We will continue to vote and support your party of interest because the son of David never fails.
“We heartily thank you, Your Excellency for saving our lives and property that would have been lost owing to high tension of war that was imminent then in the old Umuoka community.”
Responding, Governor Ugwuanyi who thanked the people of the community for honouring him, attributed the success achieved in resolving the dispute to God.
He, therefore, urged them to forgive those who may have offended them and live in harmony with one another for peace to continue to reign in their community.
Dignitaries at the event include the member representing Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Dennis Oguerinwa Amadi, Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Ugwu, Transition Committee Chairman of Udi LGA, Hon. Engr. Kenechukwu Eze, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Udi LGA, Chief Okey Aneke, former Chairman of the Council, Hon. Engr. Hyacinth Ngwu, Chief Barr. Obiora C. Onwukwe, among others.
