By Adadareporters
People of Edeaniagu clan in Amigbo, Ishi-Ozalla community of Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Wednesday, alleged that they were being marginalised in their community over indigeneship dichotomy.
The complainants threatened to bring their case before the United Nations and various human rights groups, adding that such obnoxious practices had been outlawed since 1956.
The chairman of the clan, Chief Uchenna Nweke, disclosed this in a chat with Adadareporters in Enugu.
He said, “This is becoming unbearable. We appeal to relevant stakeholders and men of goodwill to hear our voices before it results in crises. The entire people of Edeaniagu clan, comprising seven villages, were pronounced ostracized in the community over identity superiority. They denied us opportunities of being employed at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. The plan is to perpetually exclude us from participating in the leadership of our community, including the Igweship position, town union executives and even women or youth wings.
“We have complained to Enugu State House of Assembly during the last administration. We also went to the Government House to lodge our complaints. The then governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, received us, and after listening to our case, ordered the suspension of the traditional ruler that was elected amidst such ungodly circumstances.
“A panel of enquiry was also constituted and we were asked to make peace. Ugwuanyi even told us to go round the community and announce the cancellation of the pronounced ostracization to allow everyone to participate in the leadership of the community.”
He said none of those issues were addressed, adding that, “We are still waiting for the result of the panel; and that is why my people are surprised over the reinstatement of the suspended traditional ruler. The injustice is still there and my people cannot keep quiet.”
The head of Edeaniagu clan, High Chief Joseph Nweke, said his people had been subjected to a series of harassment and total denial of all privileges in the community.
He said, “I appeal to Gov Peter Mbah to save us from this age-long man-made dehumanization. We deserve our funda8 human rights.”
Professor Muna Nweke Okoye, a native, regretted that despite the abolition of all forms of segregation globally, “some individuals are surreptitiously using it to cause confusion and create divisions among the people”.
“Edeaniagu clan are truly the aborigines of Ishi-Ozalla,” she said, adding that, “The world today has no room for any form of segregation. Before those that came from ‘Okpatu Oke’ came, our ancestors were already here doing their farmwork. We also have our neighbouring villages: Akegbe, Udi, Agbogugu, Ituku and Obe.
“When they came, our forefathers welcomed them and there was no discrimination but today they decide that they will eat what belongs to all of us together. They say they have ostracized my people. It is not good and that is what is causing trouble.
“That the entire Edeaniagu will not be part of the leadership of Ishi-Ozalla community is unacceptable. These are the injustices meted to my people that we resisted and will continue to resist. If they said we will not rule them, they will not rule us either.”
She appealed to Gov Peter Mbah to grant her people their request for an autonomous community “as a permanent solution to the crisis rocking the area”, adding that, “No amount of intimidation or harassment would make us accept to leave with such demonic conditions again.”
She said they would send a petition to the National Assembly, Christian Association of Nigeria, and human rights groups “to ensure that justice is served to Ishi-Ozalla”.
The women’s leader of the seven villages that make up Edeaniagu, Mrs Obiageli Agu, and the youth leader of the clan, Mr Odirachukwu Nweke, among other stakeholders, called on Gov Mbah to revisit the panel of enquiry set up by the immediate past administration or constitute a new one as a way of finding lasting solution to the crisis.
