Tony Okafor, Awka
A 20-year-old crisis in Isuofia community, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State has been resolved.
The community is the hometown of a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
The feud was resolved following the reconciliation of two warring factions after an election that produced a new town union of the area.
A section of the area had in 1997 seceded from Isuofia community with a change of name to Isuanioma, a move that resulted in clashes and destruction of property.
Several buildings were set ablaze and about 36 families reportedly fled the community for fear of molestation while the crisis lasted, even as two persons allegedly got missing during the time.
Southern City News gathered that the two-decade-old face-off was resolved following the setting up of a peace and conflict resolution committee made up of clerics of different Christian denominations and other stakeholders.
A source, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that, “The committee worked for over a year to achieve this result.
“However, a lawsuit was filed shortly after the truce by one Chief Samuel Nwankwo and 11 others against former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Prof Charles Soludo, eight clerics and 22 others, but the matter was 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 the Special Adviser to Anambra State Governor on Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyeabo, conducted the town union election to elect a new executive.”
Addressing newsmen, the President General of community, Mr. Jude Okeke, who emerged after the reconciliation, described the development as a new dawn in Isuofia.
He said, “War or crisis is an evil wind that blows nobody no 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 lost, to work together for the progress and development of Isuofia town.”
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