By Dr Innocent Chidumebi Okonkwo.
The entire indigenes of Aguleri especially Stakeholders of Aguleri community, including the Aguleri World Forum have condemned in strong terms the recent announcement made by Aguleri Otu Ruling Council made up of Eziagulu Otu, Enugu Otu and Mkpunando Otu Ruling Council respectively.
In the announcement, the Ruling Council had sanctioned total boycott of Adah and Ovala Aguleri festivals by people from Aguleri Otu.
However, Aguleri supreme body while frowning at the announcement, demanded immediate apology and withdrawal of such divisive announcement from the Ruling Council within a period of 7 days.
The Chairman of Ojiana Aguleri rulling council, Ogbievi Paul Onuorah said they had meeting in Obu Gad with the Rulling Council of all the 3 communities in Aguleri regarding the issue of sand mining at Odene and every party was asked to go home and wait for their report in a date to be communicated to them only for them to receive a shocking news of such divisive announcement that made mockery of an indivisible Aguleri from some indigenes of Aguleri Otu community.
Responding, the speaker of Aguleri Otu united Rulling Council, Mr Udeanyinya Ivediegwu said that the Aguleri Otu Ruling Councils made the pronouncement because, HRM Eze Michael Idigo had told them in their last meeting that movement of tipper or long vehicles on the bridge will not bring the bridge down. And as such had ordered the sand miners to return to their site and continued their dredging activities.
The speaker said that they made the announcement because no specific date was given to them after the last meeting.
The Traditional Ruler of Aguleri, HRH Eze Dr Mike Idigo while addressing the house said that as the Traditional Ruler of Aguleri that he does not discriminate any group or person, that his duty is to attend to every issue in Aguleri. He made reference to his Covid 19 palliative to all the communities in Aguleri.
Igwe concluded by telling them that the bridge would not collapse simply because of movements of tippers on it.
On his own, the Aguleri National Youths Association President, Comrade Emeka Chinwuba advised every party to tow the line of peace and also maintained that the weight of tippers are not going to collapse the bridge.
"It is more beneficial to us that we have sand miners who will sign an MOU to repair our roads when it's dilapidated"
He also condemned the manner in which Aguleri Otu rulling council rushed to make such announcements and urged them to always tow the line of peace.
Speaking on behalf of Aguleri Rulling Council Chairmen, The speaker, Dr Fidelis Ndigwe condemned in totality the announcement by his Aguleri Otu counterparts and blamed them for not consulting other higher authorities before going public. He also promised to build a synergy between the rulling councils of Aguleri Otu and Aguleri uno.
Chief Oba Eluomuno who represented Aguleri World Forum in the meeting said that it had been ascertained that the bridge would not fall when the dredging activities return to Odene Eziagulu site. He opined that the IGR from from the mining should be extended to all communities in Aguleri.