By Tunji Adedeji
The dust raised by the proposed creation of 3 new Autonomous Communities in Obazu Mberi by Imo State Government has continued to generate more controversy in the area as the people strongly and unequivocally rejected the plan to split their Community, appealing to all involved to carefully reconsider their position and give adequate consideration to their plea.
It will be recalled that the Imo State Government led by Governor Rochas Okorocha recently proposed the creation of 117 new Autonomous Communities from the existing ones, a development which prompted the people of Obazu Mbieri to convey a properly constituted meeting held at the Palace of His Royal Highness Eze F.E Agunwah, Ihe of Ezinihitte Obazu Community last Wednesday where they deliberated and unanimously opposed the Government proposal of balkanizing the existing Obazu Autonomous Community into 3 distinct Autonomous Communities.
The mammoth crowd which cut across the respected elders and Youths of Mbieri Community also resolved that the effort to create more Communities should not be a priority to the right thinking and right minded indigenes of the Community since it does not confer upon the Community any economical or socio- cultural advantage or enhance status of Mbieri people.
They also resolved to join forces with all progressive individuals within the Community who have risen to fight the ugly situation or arrangement, stressing that what Obazu people need now is true restoration, development and growth in the area of roads, water, jobs and education for their youths.
They further pointed out that Obazu Community has no historical attachment with the proposed names “Ama Ato and Ama Ano which they said is alien to them, pointing stressing that any exercise as a result of perceived political benefit must be done in the most transparent and inclusive manner so that all indigenes of Obazu are carried along to arrive to an outcome.
They also described Obazu as one united family of seven clearly identifiable brothers with very strong distinctive cultural, traditional and spiritual bonds that are impossible to break.
The aggrieved Obazu people also passed a vote of no confidence on the Eze in council saying that a care taker committee was elected to oversee the activities till the arrival of the Eze.
However they further advised Imo Government that based on the fact provided, question raised and strong disapproval of vast majority of Obazu people both home and in diaspora, it was clear to the constituted authority to disregard the commendation and allow Obazu Autonomous Community to remain as one strong unified Community, Stressing that Obazu people do not support the splitting of Obazu without consulting them. The division of Obazu Community is retrogressive, and destructive they averred.
