By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Amichi Community Association (ACA) has declared its position on the lingering leadership crisis rocking the Amichi community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, harping on the need to embrace peace, respect the judicial process and work towards an inclusive resolution of the dispute.
ACA’s position was contained in a press statement issued by the Board of Trustees of the Association, in which it also made some special appeals to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, stakeholders and residents of the community.
The Association, in the statement jointly signed by Mr. Innocent Onwuelu (BOT Secretary), Chief Dom Nwobi, Mr. Josephat Ezike, Mr. Jude Nwankwo, Chief Francis Okafor, Sir Chika Nwagbo, Sir Elo Abattam, and Mr Akachukwu Okoliowa, declared its stand on the various aspects of the controversies rocking the Amichi community.
On the controversy surrounding the expiration of the tenure of Chief Cletus Udebuani as President-General of the community and the subsequent intervention by the Anambra State Government, the ACA said it supported what it described as the tenure elongation granted to the former President-General by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court which placed temporary ban on leadership election in the community.
According to the Association, maintaining continuity in leadership would help to prevent a vacuum and also ensure that the affairs of the community were not paralysed while the court process continued. The Association nevertheless appealed to all parties to allow the court to determine the substantive issues without intimidation, provocation or unnecessary confrontation.
The ACA explained that its position on the tenure elongation was informed by its understanding of the subsisting court order directing parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, and, however, emphasized that its support for the elongation was not intended to prejudice the rights or claims of any of the parties involved in the legal dispute.
Regarding the Association’s status, the ACA Board of Trustees described itself as a duly registered community organisation with a constitution filed with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). It further maintained that the affairs of Amichi must be conducted in accordance with the law, established constitutional procedures and legitimate governmental and judicial authorities.
According to the Association, the leadership disagreement in the community should not be allowed to turn the community into a battleground for competing interests, as any contested rights and claims should be resolved through the courts rather than through confrontation or unilateral actions.
While reiterating its respect for the rule of law, the group said it had taken cognisance of the recent High Court order relating to the Amichi leadership dispute and would conduct itself in a manner consistent with the directive, while also urging other parties to exercise restraint, allow the court to determine the substantive issues without intimidation, provocation or unnecessary confrontation. It further advocated the avoidance of actions capable of escalating the tension or undermining the judicial process.
The statement also addressed the controversy surrounding the proposed constitution of a Caretaker Committee for the community, with the ACA insisting that any arrangement put in place to manage the affairs of Amichi must be guided by peace, fairness, inclusiveness and credibility.
It said that if the appropriate government authority, acting within its lawful powers, decide that a Caretaker Committee was necessary, the Association should be represented in such an arrangement, arguing that all relevant interests in the community should be accommodated in order to restore confidence and reduce tension.
The Association maintained that its interest was not the capture of power by any faction, but the restoration of peace and the creation of conditions that would enable the community to pursue sustainable development.
The ACA Board of Trustees also made a passionate appeal to individuals, groups and factions involved in the crisis to de-escalate tension and refrain from inflammatory publications, threats, intimidation, harassment, destruction of property and physical confrontation.
It specifically warned against unauthorised meetings or actions purportedly taken in the name of the community, as well as the mobilisation of young people for confrontational purposes, saying such actions could threaten the peace and security of Amichi.
The Association particularly appealed to the youths of the community not to allow themselves to be used as instruments of division or conflict, noting that they would ultimately inherit whatever consequences arose from the present disagreement.
While pledging support for the administration and developmental agenda of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the ACA urged relevant government authorities to continue engaging stakeholders in Amichi with fairness, transparency and sensitivity to the peculiar circumstances surrounding the crisis.
It also outlined a number of measures it said could help to restore stability in the community, including encouraging parties to remain calm and refrain from actions capable of prejudicing the court case, promoting structured dialogue among stakeholders and involving traditional institutions, community leaders, women and youths in the peace-building process.
According to the Association, it would also support any lawful administrative mechanism designed to restore peace and keep essential community functions running pending the resolution of the dispute, while encouraging aggrieved persons to pursue their grievances through legal and constitutional channels rather than confrontation.
The group further pledged to continue advocating development initiatives that would improve the lives of Amichi residents, irrespective of political, personal or factional differences, while working with relevant government and security authorities to preserve peace and public order.
The Board of Trustees warned that the leadership crisis should not be allowed to hold the development of Amichi hostage, noting that the community still had pressing needs in areas such as infrastructure, security, employment, healthcare, education, economic empowerment and environmental sanitation.
It therefore called on all sides to move away from conflict and embrace dialogue, reconciliation and constructive engagement, insisting that leadership positions were temporary but the future and institutions of the community would outlive the present dispute.
The group also reaffirmed its rejection of violence, intimidation and lawlessness, while calling on the people of Amichi to place the collective interest of their community above personal ambitions and factional considerations.
While noting that lasting peace remains indispensable to the progress of the community; the Association urged Amichians to give the courts the opportunity to resolve the legal questions before them, as well as allow relevant authorities to perform their constitutional responsibilities and encourage traditional institutions and community stakeholders to promote reconciliation.
