By Okey Alozie
There is raging war between Traditional Rulers of various Communities in Imo State and their subjects over those listed as President Generals and members of Community policing.
Our reporter gathered over 645 autonomous communities in the State since last week are boiling over the issue and the trouble is said to have escalated into war between the Stakeholders in the Autonomous Communities and their Traditional Rulers because of imposition.
Report has it that people of alleged questionable characters were imposed on some Communities as President Generals and Operatives of community policing.
Information further revealed that the Traditional Rulers went contrarily to the Government House directive by single handedly picking names of those that will serve as PGs and operatives of community policing instead of going by election to get the right people and choice of the communities.
The problem began immediately some of the Chiefs and Nzes saw the list of those appointed.
This development has brought confusion in the communities as the Monarchs and palace members are now in disarray.
The worst hit is Nguru Nweke ancient kingdom in Aboh Mbaise LGA of Imo State. Some of the Palace members who spoke to our reporter threatened to take the Traditional Ruler. HRH Eze James Nnamdi Mirioma to court if he refuses to redress his steps.
The aggrieved Chiefs of the community declared all his appointees unacceptable adding that Eze James Mirioma has no right to make such appointments without consulting his cabinet members.
They accused him of high handedness and autocracy in his decision. All efforts made to hear from the Eze proved abortive as at the time of presenting this report.
In Orlu LGA the same thing took place as stakeholders of the area have started battling the royal fathers over the appointments.
Okigwe zone is not left out in this community war.
Our reporter who visited the place said about 10 autonomous communities in Okigwe Zone are boiling over the same issue. Some of the aggrieved communities have threatened to pass vote of no confidence on some Traditional Rulers if the demands of the people were not accepted. “We want election and not selection” community leaders declared.
It could be recalled that the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma during the meeting he held with the Royal Fathers at the palace of Eze Imo recently, directed that communities should hold President-General and order position of the town union elections. He also demanded each community should produce its community policing to check crime.
Few days later, the issue became a problem in the various communities as the Traditional Rulers wanted to go by appointments to produce the list of the PGS and the members of the community policing, while the village Leaders wanted equity to rain by insisting that the 11 man community policing must be by election where each village must be given the opportunity to produce atleast one person.
Trumpeta gathered that the names listed for submission to government House Owerri were only selected by the Royal fathers and not appointed by the people as demanded.
The concerned citizens now appeal to the Governor to intervene into this issue as a matter of urgently and cancel all the lists submitted to avoid further problems at the grass roots.
