Isuofia Ends Age-long Communal Feud

Willie Obiano

Awka – The twenty-year-old intra-communal crisis in Isuofia town, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State has come to an end following the reconciliation of the two factions and the election of a new town union executive council.

Trouble started in 1997 when a quarter of Isuofia community announced its secession from the town, declaring that it was now Isuanioma Community which led to break down of law and order in the area.

While the communal crisis lasted, over nine buildings were torched and over thirty-six families fled their homes for fear of attacks while two persons were alleged to have been missing.

Consequently, the then Isuofia People’s Union Federated Executive functioned for about eighteen years which the rest of the community described the body as illegitimate.

But just last year a peace and conflict resolution committee was set up made up of clerics from the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal churches and some stakeholders in the community which resolved the two-decade face off.

However, a lawsuit was filed shortly after the truce by Chief Samuel Nwankwo and eleven others against former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof Charles Soludo, eight clerics and twenty-two others which was however 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 with the directives of Special Adviser to Anambra State governor on Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters, Ikechukwu Onyeabo, conducted its town union election to elect a new executive.

Speaking shortly after the election that produced Mr. Jude Okeke as the President General, Soludo told newsmen that it was a new dawn in Isuofia community.

“War or crisis is an evil wind that blows nobody any good and you can imagine what our community has lost in the last twenty 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 for 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 ensure that we cue into all the developmental schemes and policies of this executive and the state government,” he said.