By Magnus Aluma
The women of Ihie Autonomous Community, Ishiagu, in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State yesterday, staged a peaceful protest in the area, to condemn a purported planned attack on their Traditional Ruler, His Royal Highness, Eze Gabriel Okoro.
The visibly angry, aged women told reporters at the scene of the protest, that there were indications that a plot had been perfected by some indigenes of the area, to attack the Traditional Ruler of the community, at the instance of the Local Government Chairman, Hon. Emmanuel Aja. They condemned the said planned attack on the monarch, insisting that such an act would amount to a total desecration of the people’s traditional stool.
Expressing their feelings, the protesting women said, “We warn the chairman of Ivo Local Government Area, Hon Emmanuel Ajah to stop instigating crisis in our community. We, therefore, condemn the plot to attack His Royal Highness, Eze Gabriel Uzoma Okoro, the Odu II of Ihie Autonomous Community by some people sponsored by certain individuals in this community.”
NewsBits reports that the Council Chairman, Emmanuel Ajah, last week announced a 5-day ban on all forms of public gatherings in the area, to forestall further breach of peace, and close the security lapses in the area.
However, the protesters alleged that the ban was targeted at stalling the annual New Yam Festival of the people, which also features the conferment of chieftaincy titles to deserving individuals in the community. However, Governor Nwifuru’s intervention in the situation has resulted in the immediate suspension of the ban and the eventual celebration of the people’s annual event.
The protesting women who are in their 50s, 60s and some even above their 70s, displayed various placards and chanted solidarity songs as they marched to the palace of the traditional ruler. Some of the placards read: “Do not touch or harm our Odu II,” “There’s no crisis in Ihie,” and “Chairman, Emmanuel Ajah, stop inciting crisis in Ihie community.”
The women also commended the traditional ruler for the peace and unity he had maintained in the community, since after his coronation. Speaking on their behalf, one of their leaders, Mrs. Philomena Ngozi expressed joy for the peaceful and successful hosting of this year’s New Yam festival.
“I thank the Eze for his numerous achievements, including the construction of Afikpo Road farmland with seven concrete bridges with his personal resources, maintenance of peace, law and order and observance of the people’s culture and traditions,” according to her.
A native of the area, High Chief Gilbert Okoro, who spoke to the protesting women on behalf of the traditional ruler, thanked Governor Francis Nwifuru for his prompt intervention in the crisis and for prevailing on the council chairman to reverse his order, banning public gatherings. He further pleaded with the governor to call to order the people behind the purported plot to attack the monarch, adding that the act would desecrate their sacred traditional institution.
He said: “Ihie Autonomous Community has been very peaceful until certain individuals wanted to impose themselves on the community as town union leaders, against the wishes of the majority of the people. Since they were stopped, they have been troubling our community. They even planned to hold their own New Yam festival separate from that of the community. Do communities hold different New Yam festivals?”
He further said: “But we stopped them through an understanding with the government. Till now, they have continued to dish out threats to our peace-loving people of Ihie community and our Eze in particular. In fact, we heard that they are planning to sponsor some women to come and profane the Eze and the palace. We ask them to stop any evil plans against our Traditional Ruler because our community loves and respects him.”
