RE: INSECURITY IN AGWA CLAN, WHY THEIR LEADERS/ STAKEHOLDERS MUST BE HELD RESPONSIBLE
Our attention has been drawn to a malicious and incendiary publication by one *Nwauwa Ikedi* of Izombe, Oguta LGA.
At first, we wanted to ignore obvious hate speech by someone who is desperate to eke out a living by pleasing his paymasters. But some respected men of goodwill prevailed on us to put the records straight for the benefits of some gullible minds who may be tempted to believe the incurable falsehood spewed by the said Nwauwa Ikedi.
Firstly, we condemn in strongest of terms the unprovoked attack on Agwa Clan, its Ezes, socio-cultural and political leaders in his desperate bid to to score a political point. You lack the standi to make such weighty accusation against a Clan. This is egregious, malicious and capable of triggering inter-communal conflicts between Agwa and Izombe.
Secondly, it is very ironical that someone from Izombe could recommend for Agwa what he did not recommend to his own Community, Izombe when they were worst hit by insecurity. The state of insecurity in Oguta LGA started from Izombe which is the hotbed of insecurity. Many lives were lost in Izombe and houses razed. The Governor and all security heads in the State visited Izombe and condemned the level of carnage witnessed there. In the heat of such violence in Izombe, *Nwauwa Ikedi* did not call for the suspension of all the Traditional Rulers, Presidents-General, all politicians of Izombe extraction and the leadership of Izombe Central Union as he is recommending now for Agwa. This is the height of hypocrisy, a hate speech against Agwa Clan and such is actionable.
It may interest you to know that Agwa Central Union or Agwa Clan is not accountable to Nwauwa Ikedi or obligated to tell him what we are doing or not doing regarding the security situation in Agwa and cannot under any guise whatsoever, subject Agwa Clan to someone who is not holding the brief of Izombe clan but a meddlesome interloper.
Thirdly, Agwa Central Union (ACU) does not control the security architecture of the government and security challenges are not peculiar to Agwa. Till date, Nigeria is still experiencing high scale acts of terrorism and other forms of insecurity and nobody has called for the resignation of the President and Commander – in – Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the suspension of the National Assembly members and other organs of Government like he has done for Agwa. Similarly, some parts of Imo State are still experiencing security challenges and no reasonable person should call for the suspension of our Governor as the Chief Security Officer of the State and other organs of government in the State. The situation in Agwa was a consequence of what happened in Izombe. It was even from Izombe that these security challenges degenerated to Agwa as its closest neighbour.
From his unprovoked and unwarranted attack on the Agwa people, we are constrained to conclude that the write up was out to blackmail the Agwa Clan and Political class so that Agwa Clan would not get strategic appointments in the second tenure of our dear Governor as was experienced in his first term. But His Excellency is already aware of his antiquated and outlandish antics in demarketing the Agwa Clan by hiding under alleged recent security disturbances that have yet resulted in mindless killings of many Agwa indigenes. We are not happy that Agwa people are dying for what they dont know but we’re doing everything possible to restore normalcy in Agwa.
Our dear dynamic Governor appreciates the massive votes given to him by the Agwa people and is set to reciprocate the love of our people to him. To whom much is given, much is expected.
Any unbiased person would have expected Nwauwa Ikedi to appeal to our Governor to deploy more combat-ready security personnel to arrest the uprising in Agwa before it blossoms to what happened in Izombe or plead with the Governor to pay special attention to Agwa security situation and not vilify the entire Clan.
Fourthly, his statement that more than 75% of Agwa leaders belong to different cult groups is malicious, unfounded and defamatory of our leaders and we demand immediate retraction otherwise we shall exercise our rights under the law without further recourse to him.
We are by this medium warning Nwauwa Ikedi to desist and refrain from defamatory publications against Agwa Clan and its leadership. When you want to play politics, delineate your boundaries and not foray into Agwa Clan in it entirety. He should be concerned with what is happening in Izombe and leave Agwa alone.
Whilst we continue to condemn these senseless killings, it is our hope that our Governor will take urgent steps to unveil his plans for Agwa which will restore lasting and enduring peace in Agwa land.
Agwa Must Be Better In Our Time.
*Ajokubi Leonard*
National Publicity Secretary/PRO, ACU.
