Ebonyi Community Leaders Urge Calm Over Monarch’s Coronation

Leaders of Nkomoro community in Ezza North local government area of Ebonyi State have called on the youths of the area to remain calm over the violence that erupted on Saturday during the coronation of Chief Joseph Nwakpa as its traditional ruler.

In a statement, the leaders maintained that they would resist any attempt at breaking law and order in the community under any guise.

The statement was signed by Hon Samuel Noko, councillor of Nkomoro Ward, Mr Onowu Livinus Eze, traditional prime minister and Chief Obiora Ezaka, acting town union president of the community.

They described the coronation exercise as a desecration of the Nkomoro community and a violation and total disregard of the order of the court of competent jurisdiction by Chief Jacob Nwakpa and the state commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters.

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They said an Abakaliki High Court in Suit: No. HNK/18/2024 between Okwudiri Agbom & anor vs Chief Jacob Nwakpa & 6 ors made an order on the 10/06/2024 restraining all the respondents from carrying out the coronation of the 1st defendant as the traditional ruler of Nkomoro community, adding that the order was duly served on all the defendants.

The leaders noted that a formal complaint was made to the state commissioner of police and other relevant agencies, adding that despite the court order, Nwakpa and the state commissioner for local government mobilised and invaded the community to carry on with the coronation.

They condemned the alleged desecration of their land by Nwakpa, Mr Uchenna Igwe and others.

Before the monarch’s installation, the people of Nkomoro had, through multiple channels of communication, alerted the public and expressed their rejection of the clandestine moves and attempts to impose a traditional ruler on them.

“Pursuant to agony and outcry of the people of Nkomoro, we approached the court to ventilate our grievances. Upon the court’s intervention, an order of interim injunction was issued to restrain all parties and maintain the status quo, pending the determination of all issues before the court.

Despite serving all parties the court order, Mr. Uchhena Igwe alongside others arrived at Nkomoro Community to allegedly coronate a person as Ezeogo without any form of election.

“We, therefore, categorically state that the actions of Mr Jacob Nwakpa and Mr Uchhena Igwe, alongside others, are capable of igniting crisis in Nkomoro and should be condemned outrightly.

The community leaders called for the quick intervention of the security agencies and the state government to forestall any breakdown of law and other in the community.