Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha
In line with his total commitment for the promotion of peace, unity, progress and development in Mbieri community in Mbaitoli local government area, the member representing Mbaitoli State Constituency in the Imo State House Of Assembly, Hon Engr Innocent Ikechukwu Ikpamezie has continued to preach the gospel of love, togetherness, forgiveness and peaceful co-existence.
This was in continuation of his search for peace, unity, progress and development in the troubled community. At the instance of the vibrant and progressive lawmaker, a meeting with stakeholders, leaders, including traditional rulers was held at the Imo State House Of Assembly complex, to find solutions to the crisis tearing the town union apart, which led to the formation of two factions.
While preaching for peace, Hon Engr Ikpamezie explained that Mbieri community cannot continue to dangle and oscillate in division, maintaining that there is unity in progress, and there is peace in unity. In his words, “I have special respect for Mbieri and Mbaitoli. Mbieri has 19 towns, with 7 Autonomous communities. But the destiny and progress of Mbieri is in our hands. Let us come together in love and unity. Crisis has come to take over our system, because we allowed it, due to our selfishness and greed. Peace is what unites a family and community”.
Hon Ikpamezie continued, “the two factional President Generals are here, and their tenures will soon elapse. There is therefore the need to bring peace. Let Mbieri come together for peace to reign. If this crisis continue, posterity will judge us. Mbieri is the fulcrum of Mbaitoli. If Mbieri reunites as one family, development from government will naturally be attracted. Let Mbieri move forward”.
Thereafter, Hon Ikpamezie unveiled his proposal for election into the office of President General, since the tenures of the two factional President Generals are about to elapse. He proposed the election to hold on or before Easter 2024. Hon Engr Ikpamezie further proposed that a congress be organized at Orie Mbieri square, where the election would also be planned. He also suggested that the said election will be by delegates from each of the 19 towns in Mbieri, with 10 delegates from each town. Finally, the peace, unity and progress seeking lawmaker pleaded that his proposal be accepted, in order to move Mbieri forward. “As your son, I plead for peace and unity amongst us”, Hon Engr Innocent Ikechukwu Ikpamezie concluded.
Following the soul-searching and soul-touching speech of Hon Ikpamezie, some stakeholders, leaders, including traditional rulers made contributions to the meeting, while thanking the lawmaker for his peace initiative.
90 year old Chief Victor D. O. Iroegbu, who spoke in flawless English was of the view that there are people who benefit from crisis, hence the problem in Mbieri has persisted. He recalled that the two factional President Generals were being backed by different groups and individuals. According to the Elder-statesman, one of the factions led by Chief Fidelis Akuchie was being backed by the Traditional Rulers, while the one led by Chief Chukwuma Okwuodor claimed he took over from Chief Mgbeahuru. Chief Victor Iroegbu submitted that with the tenures of the two factional Presidents coming to the end, there is a level playing ground, and that the constitutions of the two factions be merged together, in order to make meaningful headway.
Other stakeholders and leaders, including traditional rulers who contributed in support of the peace initiative of Hon Engr Ikpamezie were ;
- Apostle Professor Chinedu Cona Anosike.
- Chief Fidelis Akuchie.
- HRH Eze Peter Opara.
- HRH Eze Dr Vitalis Achilike (Ihieri 11 of Ihitte Mbieri).
- Chief Mayor Onyewuchi Asinobi (Gburugburu).
- High Chief Dr Fidelis C. E. Arisukwu (Azu 11).
- Chief Emma Iwuagwu.
- Chief Kingsley Asinobi.
- Hon Ugonna Achuko
- Hon Chief Princewill Ezewuihe (Baba Ali)
- Barrister Ikechukwu Nkwopara (Legal Adviser to the Mbieri Supreme Council).
- Chief Sam Ozuzuma (Ochinanwata Mbieri)
- Chief Chijoke Obi
- Chief Uche Mba
- Hon Chief Barrister Marcon Nlemigbo (Ochiriozuo)
While Apostle Prof Chinedu Cona Anosike expressed his support for peace, he clarified that the tenure of Chief Chukwuma Okwuodor had already elapsed and has stepped down for him to emerge as the caretaker President General. He pledged not to be in office as President General beyond Easter Monday 2024. Apostle Cona Anosike further revealed that before he accepted the mantle of leadership of Okwuodor faction, he reached out to many stakeholders, leaders and traditional rulers, to inform them of his decision to step down immediately after the conduct of proper election, on or before Easter Monday 2024.
For Chief Fidelis Akuchie, he described himself as a peacemaker and that his tenure would elapse by the end of February 2024. He further stated that it is his desire to have one President General accepted by everyone. He thereafter called for a neutral electoral body that would bring about peaceful election.
For High Chief Dr F. C. E. Arisukwu, he praised Hon Ikpamezie for his single-mindedness and efforts to bring peace in Mbieri community. In his words, he said, “The good work you started, if you get it right, Mbieri will bless you, and will remain grateful to you. This is a good opportunity for us to come together as one”.
For Chief Emma Iwuagwu, he expressed great joy that traditional rulers present at the meeting have indicated commitment to have one united Mbieri. He further said that infighting has deprived Mbieri of political growth, development and progress, but expressed happiness that everyone have queued into the peace initiative of Hon Engr Innocent Ikpamezie.
Earlier, Chief Emma Iwuagwu had listed the 19 towns of Mbieri as follows :
- Iwo
- Ebom
- Ohohia
- Umuomumu
- Umuobom
- Ubakuru
- Amankuta
- Achi
- Eziome
- Amaulu
- Umuonyeali
- Umunjam
- Umuneke
- Obazu
- Umuagwu
- Umuduru
- Umunyam
- Umuachii
- Obokwe
For Hon Ugonna Achuko, he explained that the first challenge he encountered as Coordinator of Development Centre in Mbaitoli LGA was the crisis in Mbieri, and that he quickly set up a committee to look into the problem. However, he further stated that the committee refused to function for over one year, only for them to come back to him with a resolution. He further revealed that before setting up the committee, he consulted widely with traditional rulers, elders and other stakeholders. He, however, thanked Hon Ikpamezie for his peace initiative.
For Chief Chijoke Obi, he urged Mbieri people to queue in the peace process, while thanking Hon Innocent Ikpamezie for initiating it.
Chief Uche Mba, who is the Ohaneze Ndigbo leader in Mbaitoli chapter, urged traditional rulers to speak with one voice, while urging everyone to queue in the peace initiative of the pragmatic lawmaker, Hon Ikpamezie.
Hon Chief Marcon Nlemigbo pleaded to everyone to allow the sleeping dog lie, maintaining that Mbieri needs growth. He thereafter called on traditional rulers to see their subjects as children, who must be given love and affection. He reminded everyone that Mbieri community is almost half of Mbaitoli local government area, and that anything which affects the community affects the entire local government. In his words, “let us forgive one another, and move forward “.
Having made substantial contributions towards bringing peace, unity, , development and progress , Hon Engr Innocent Ikechukwu Ikpamezie put all the resolutions to vote and they were unanimously adopted. Thereafter, Hon Ikpamezie ruled as follows :
- Be it resolved by this meeting of Stakeholders, Elders, Leaders, Including Traditional Rulers, that Mbieri Wu Otu Nwoke General Assembly is One Indivisible Entity, And there would be no more factions.
- Be it resolved that election will be by Delegates from each of the 19 towns in Mbieri, with 10 Delegates from each town.
- Be it resolved that the Congress for election, with Traditional Rulers, to decide on how to move Mbieri forward, will be on the 17th of February 2024. And that the Electoral Committee will be inaugurated same day.
