By Chukwudi Ebele
No fewer than 2,000 protesters
from Awba Ofemili, Awka North North Local Government Area, Anambra State,
Wednesday, stormed Government House, Awka, where they protested alleged
killings, burning of houses, forceful
confiscation of 2000 bags of rice, goats, land grabbing, among others,
against the monarch, Igwe Ernest Maduagwuna and the community security vigilante, demanding
monarch's dethronement.The protesters, some of who
carried placards with the inscription: "We say no to killings, imposition of PGs, burning of houses,
forceful seizure of people's rice and goats, land grabbing, Soludo dethrone
Igwe Maduagwuna and sack vampire Chief security officer, Polycap Ndukife,"
among others.
Speaking through their
spokesman, Dr Nice M. Mekoh, the
protesters said that over 15 houses were set ablaze, 2000 bags of rice, scores
of goats forcefully confiscated from their owners and reportedly sold to
traders in Onitsha.
His words, "We demand
dethronement of the monarch, Igwe Ezekwesiri Ernest Maduagwuna, and conduct of
a fresh President General, PG, election, the incumbent PG wasl imposed on us
which also increased the killings, raping, land grabbing, setting houses
ablaze, confiscation of over 2000 bags of rice from poor farmers by the monarch
and his cohorts.
"In our community if you
question the monarch you will be attacked and your house set ablaze, they rape
wives and daughters of our people and you don't complain if you want to be
alive," he further explained.
Mekoh commended the governor
for rehabilitating the Amansea,) Ugbene/Awba Ofemili road which assists them to
evacuate farm produce to the cities.
In his response, Governor
Charles Chukwuma Soludo, ably represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Ernest
Ezeajughi, pledged to look into the allegations and commended them for the
peaceful way they conducted the protest adding that investigation would be
conducted.
He thanked the people for
supporting the governor who is interested in the infrastructural development of
the state assuring that soonest investigation will commence.
In a swift reaction when
contacted, the embattled monarch, Igwe Maduagwuna, described the protesters as
trouble makers who accused him of setting their houses ablaze.
According to the monarch,
"I, Igwe can't set somebody's house ablaze, they are bunch of liars, the
protest they carried out is useless, null and void and of no effect."
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