.New president-general emerges
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The 20-year-old communal crisis in Isuofia town, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, ended following the reconciliation of the two factions and the ultimate election of a new town union Executive Council.
The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof Charles Soludo, hails from Isuofia.
However, trouble started in 1997 when a quarter of Isuofia community announced its secession from the town, and immediately changed its name to Isuanioma Community, which led to breakdown of law and order in the area.
While the communal crisis lasted, no fewer than nine buildings were torched and over 36 families fled their homes for fear of attacks. Two persons were alleged to have been missing due to the crisis.
Consequently, the then Isuofia Peoples Union Federated Executive functioned for about 18 years, as the rest of the community described the body as illegitimate.
But last year, a Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee was set up made up of clerics from the Catholic Church, Anglican and Pentecostal churches including some stakeholders in the community which resolved the two-decade face-off.
Besides, a law suite was filed shortly after the truce by Chief Samuel Nwankwo and 11 others against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) former Governor, Prof Charles Soludo, eight clerics and 22, others which was how ever quashed by the presiding judge of Aguata High Court, Justice Obiora.
It was on the strength of this development that the two warring camps in compliance to the directives of the Special Adviser to Anambra State governor on Chieftaincy and Town Union Matter, Ikechukwu Onyeabo, conducted its town union election to elect a new executive.
After the election that produced Mr. Jude Okeke as the President General, Soludo said that it was a new dawn in Isuofia community.
His words: “War or crisis is an evil wind that blows nobody any good and you can imagine what our community has lost in the last 20 years, socio-economically.
“I wish to announce my support for the new executive and I call on all and sundry both those that won the election and those that did not win to work together to the progress and development of Isuofia town.
“I also thank the Anambra State government for its role in ensuring peace in Isuofia town and we the people of Isuofia would endure that we queue in to all the developmental schemes and policies of this executive and the state government.”
