Raymond Ozoji, Awka
Contrary to social media propaganda against Umueri community in Anambra-East local government area of Anambra state, there was no nightmare in the community over alleged ownership and control of a purported clandestine armoury by the traditional ruler of the community, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Sir Ben Izuchukwu Emeka, and the President-General of the town union, Chief Pius Ejimofor Okonkwo. Rumour bearers had alleged that some youths had died as a result of the rift between the two prominent individuals.
The traditional ruler of the community debunked the allegations, saying that Umueri was peaceful and there was no pandemonium whatsoever and that nobody died in his community.
Igwe Emeka who issued a press statement on the issue at the weekend, expressed deep worry at the rate which some unscrupulous elements had gone on social media mud-slinging against Umueri community.
The statement read in part: “The attention of the traditional ruler and people of Umueri kingdom in Anambra-East local government area of Anambra state has been drawn to a malicious report on the social media where some faceless disgruntled elements claimed that the community has an armoury where it allegedly stored guns and ammunition for reasons the author(s) of the said report could not justify.
“Furthermore the said report equally alleged that some youths had lost their lives over what they interpreted as the face-off between the traditional ruler of the community His Royal Majesty Igwe Sir Ben Izuchukwu Emeka (Okebo ii of Umueri ) and the President-General of Umueri Town Union Chief Pius Ejimofor Okonkwo where both prominent individuals had disagreed over the ownership and control of the purported armoury.
“The traditional ruler of the town HRM Igwe Sir Ben Izuchukwu Emeka by this press release declares that the allegations of an armoury in his domain is false and to all intents and purposes intended to tarnish the reputation of his peace-loving community as well as drag his name to the mud.
“There is no war in Umueri and the President-General and traditional ruler are working harmoniously well to ensure a tranquil atmosphere of love and unity for all and sundry to thrive.
“Again the traditional ruler reiterates his position that nobody died in Umueri community contrary to malicious social media reports. That what they had was a minor internal town union leadership squabble where an impeachment attempt was made on the PG but said that he has the situation under firm control and that government was aware of the development and would resolve the matter in a short while.
“The monarch by this press release states categorically that the perpetrators of social media propaganda against his throne and Umueri community were being tracked and would be sued for libel if apprehended by security agencies.
“He therefore urges members of the public and indeed all well-meaning individuals to adopt more viable means of fishing out persons who use fake names on the social media to malign people.”
Igwe Umueri who stated that he does not reckon with social media contents anymore due to misinformation and disinformation, maintained that the reputations of many prominent Nigerians had been destroyed and rendered worthless by faceless social media influencers. He said Umueri didn’t buy AK47 rifles neither did it store arms and ammunition for war. The traditional ruler of the community emphasized that he didn’t buy AK47 rifles and that nobody in Umueri community bought AK47 rifles as maliciously alleged in the social media.
He noted that he had nothing to do with weapons of mass destruction and could not take human life because he was not at war with any person but expressed great delight that the security agencies were aware of the situation. He said if Umueri community had any armoury, it wouldn’t have taken security agencies too much task to dislodge the hideout where the said arms were kept.
The traditional ruler equally stated that no attempt was made by the town union to dethrone him because the town union had no such powers and that if there was any established case of his high-handedness in office as the monarch, that it was the entire community that would decide his fate while Governor Willie Obiano reserves the exclusive right to withdraw his certificate of recognition as traditional ruler of the community. He stressed that some disgruntled elements in the community can not plot his removal over selfish reasons knowing fully that it took Umueri about 22 years to produce another traditional ruler.
“The igweship in Umueri is just two years old. We are going to three years and somebody will wake up one morning to say he wants to remove the Igwe of Umueri. He will first of all, remove himself before removing the Igwe of Umueri. The Igwe that Umueri never saw for 22 years and when I emerged a lot of developments started coming to the community. I have restored peace and development in Umueri community. There is no bloodshed and nobody died in my community irrespective of unfounded malicious social media propaganda against us.”