Raymond Ozoji, Awka
The traditional ruler of Mkpunando-Aguleri in Anambra-East local government area of Anambra state, His Royal Highness Igwe Johnson Mbanefo, has held a crucial meeting with Ndichie and Ojiana on amicable resolution of herdsmen encroachments on farmlands in the area.
The meeting which was held at Amaisiokwe Mkpunando-Aguleri had all the elders from Ugwuoba, Umuagu, Ngalagu, Umuawonu, Abo, Umunoke, Amaerulu and other villages in attendance.
Igwe Mbanefo said the meeting was to intimate his subjects of the coming of the Fulani herdsmen into the community for cattle-grazing as well as the need for them to have a cordial relationship with their visitors.
The traditional ruler said it was pertinent that they set up a committee that would dialogue with the herdsmen to ensure there was no violence for the period of their sojourn in Mkpunando-Aguleri; stressing that such measures were necessary to also ensure that hoodlums didn’t take advantage of the situation to cause mayhem in the area.
Igwe Mbanefo maintained that part of the objective of the meeting was to suggest to his subjects to have a concrete arrangement with the herdsmen as to where they would operate so that they would not destroy or enchroach into peoples’ farms.
He said, “They would have a committee that would liaise with the herdsmen so that they would be in agreement to checkmate their activities.
“I also told them that His Excellency the governor has said that anybody cow destroys his property, the herdsmen would pay for it. So they would be in dialogue to avoid misunderstandings.”
The traditional ruler, who pointed out that his subjects didn’t buy the idea that Fulani herdsmen were coming into the community, also made it categorically clear that the herdsmen could not be avoided because they were Nigerians and they had their rights of movements and residency in any part of the country.
According to him, “There are herdsmen that have become citizens either by birth or by marriage in Anambra. Those herdsmen are the ones we can harbour because they have been living with us for a long time now.
“Not all the herdsmen are bad. The ones that come into Anambra don’t cause problems because they know it is their place of residence. They will also inform you when the bad ones come from Niger Republic.” Igwe Mbanefo disclosed.
Apart from the peace accord with Fulani herdsmen, the traditional ruler equally revealed that this year’s flood really affected the community, submerging farmlands, houses and a host of others but also expressed profound joy that the Concerned Citizens of Mkpunando-Aguleri intervened and embarked on rehabilitation and remedial works in the area.
He said the federal lawmaker representing Anambra-East and West constituency at the National Assembly Hon.Chinedu Benjamin Obidigwe and many others from the area donated relief materials for victims of the flood as well as played significant roles in the rehabilitation of the community.
Igwe Mbanefo who acknowledged that Governor Willie Obiano has been magnanimous to Mkpunando-Aguleri, said it was the present administration that provided access roads in the community.
He said formerly there were no access roads in Mkpunando-Aguleri but the governor was currently constructing a road connecting Aguleri-Otu and Aguleri-Uno in the area, noting that they were beginning to witness the dividends of democracy after many years of long suffering.
Cognisant of the fact that government can not provide all the necessary infrastructures, he however appealed to Governor Willie Obiano to pay more priority attention to Mkpunando-Aguleri while soliciting for prayers and support for the governor to be able to accomplish his mission and vision for Anambra state.