Imo community presents new monarch to council chief

• Assembly Insists On de-recognising 110 Autonomous Communities 

As the 27 members of Imo House of Assembly insist that the state governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha should de-recognise some autonomous communities and merge them, the indigenes of Osuama autonomous community in Isiala Mbano Local Council of Imo State, at the weekend, presented their newly elected monarch, Eze Edmond Umunnakwe Agim, as the Eze Udo IV to Geofrank Ijezie, chairman, Transition Committee of the Local Council. The former monarch of the community had passed on.

The Guardian gathered that Osuama autonomous community was created decades ago, and that it did not fall into the category of the 110 communities the House of Assembly, a fortnight ago, urged Okorocha, to de-recognise due to heavy cost of running them.

At the occasion, which held at Umuelimai Council headquarters amid pump and pageantry, many members of the community and the Palace Secretary of the ancient kingdom, Chief Longinus Ezirim, said the choice of Agim was unanimous. Ezirim explained that he received overwhelming nod from the indigenes of the community, due to his track record in the area of philanthropy and leadership skills to drive and attract development to the community.

He described the new monarch as “peace loving, ready to systematically transform and cause development to the community.” In his view, the selection was done based on his humility, generosity, integrity, courage, and ability to align with the people’s desires, among other desirable attributes, and that there was no major dissenting voice in the process. He said the community religiously followed article 14 of the community Constitution in the Eze’s emergence, which involved mutual love and understanding.

Receiving the group, the council chief, Ijezie, said the needful would be done by taking the matter to the governor for onward recognition and issuance of staff of office.

He urged the red cap chiefs, women and youths, who thronged the Local Government council to support the new Eze, to maintain the peace and progress of the community.

In his response, Eze Edmond Umunnakwe Agim, Eze Udo IV pledged to always sensitise Osuama community to carry out the policies and programme of the state government. He urged the state and local governments to assist in the development of Osuama through provision of social amenities and empowerment of youth.

The Guardian also gathered that more protests by affected communities are trailing the lawmakers’ decision to de-recognise their autonomy, as they are threatening.

Eze Sam Ohiri, Chairman of the state council of traditional rulers, also urged the Speaker of the Assembly, Acho Ihim, and other members, including the Arthur Eqim-led committee on Revalidation of communities, not to create more to the existing 644.