Enugu Agidi PG storm New Yam festival with over 200 security operatives

 

Enugu Agidi PG storm New Yam festival with over 200 security operatives 

....As indigenes beg Soludo for intervention over intimidation, attack, and land grabbing 

From Uchenna Ezeadigwe 

Awka

The traditional ruler of Enugu Agidi community, His Royal Highness 

Igwe Michael Chidozie Okekeuche, Okpalariam 111 of  Enugu Agidi Umunri Ancestral Dynasty has celebrated his new yam festival according to the rites and beliefs of the Enugu Agidi people. 

The event, which took place on Saturday 27th of September 2025 at the Igwe palace was successful except for the invasion of the President General, Mr Ebuka Onuorah with over two hundred armed security operatives. All dressed in black walked straight in the Palace where the igwe was seated and exchanged pleasantries without sitting down for a moment, the PG marched out of the venue, an act many present believed was unwelcomed following the counter protests and foiled meetings of the Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union Central Executive (CEC) where the Monarch, Igwe Michael Okekeuche walked out without declaring it open as constitutionally mandated because representatives of some villages and branches were allegedly beaten and denied access to the venue.

Addressing newsmen on what transpired on Friday at the CEC meeting and the allegations that some people were denied access as well as beaten up, the President General, Onuorah, alleged that only those whose branches were indebted to the union were refused entry to the meeting but others without debts attended.

Mr Onuorah, further refuted the claims that some village and branch Chairmen were beaten by thugs and security men on his order, noting that the debtors were only prevented from the meeting and urged to make the necessary payments and enter. While commending the monarch for organising the 2025 new yam festival, with a prayer that the next year would be better.

Contrary to his statements of the PG, Chief Nathan Udegbunam Okoye. (Ozo Ngonadi) described the visit as unwarranted and unacceptable by the community. "You can see that he came and left immediately because he was not received. We have gone through peace talks at Abuja, Emeka Offor, yet the PG violates them. He imposes his men on all the villages. We went to a meeting yesterday, and he stopped some of the village leaders from entering the hall, especially the Abuja branch, stopped the national Chairman of Etiti Village, and stopped Normu village and others". 

Chief Okoye, however, refuted the claims by the PG that those who were refused entry were those who did not pay their development levy. "It's not the PG's right to dictate to the people who will come to meetings or not, What concerns him is to know that each village,  branches in other states and abroad are represented in the meeting". 

Vice Chairman, Mbanano community, Peter Onuekwusi, from Irunebo villages who attended the meeting stated that the announcement was that each village should bring five delegates. "So when we came to the venue, they refused entry for our chairman and his vice but allowed me because I am the secretary land committee.

Corroborating, Chairman of Iruenebo village, Mr Obiora Amuta disclosed that the PG, who is Ebuka Onuorah, is someone who is bent on destroying Enugu Agidi community.  We the Chairmen of affected villages want to stop the problem we are having in the community which is land grabbing, the PG is shielding them land buyers and protecting them. I am one of the village chairmen whose village is affected so much by these land-grabbing activities. It is part of the agenda that we delegates decided to present as a village and narrate our problem to the people in front of the PG, and the Igwe.  Some time ago the PG declared no entry for land grabbers, but fortunately, caterpillars entered the bush and cleared over two thousand plots of our land. While we are calling him, he told us that he is in the hospital and from there to China. He came back after the whole land had been cleared by a bulldozer. We have written several petitions, but nothing has been done. I got there and never knew we had been marked to be beaten. The five of us were beaten, and even the police that were brought to maintain peace and order couldn't do that. It's really unfortunate. His visit to the new yam festival is part of the show and shouldn't be accepted". 

Another witness, Onyeka Anibogu, from Iruobieli village called for the need to have peace, he accused the PG as a land grabber, a jobless fellow who has not once attained any public office until his recent appointment as PG. We have one mandate this December, and the mandate is that Ebuka Onuorah must go, the President General of Enugu Agidi. He comes to the funeral activities to scatter things. " 

Another speaker, Mr Anibogu disclosed that it was for formality's sake. "We don't want him anymore".

Also, Mrs Uju Esebunso from Etiti Village stated that the PG held a CEC meeting yesterday, which the community did not accept because he is not doing well. "He is selling our lands and using Tiger boys (His Cult group on black), which he uses to intimidate the indigenes. In his regime, two women have gone to prison, which I am involved in. His anger is that I refused to park outside a house he wants to sell, and the case is still in court. I am pleading to our governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, to come to our aid and rescue us. He uses his influence to intimidate us, falling people's canopies at the burial ceremony, claiming he is the capacity PG. Pls, we need help", she cried out.

Hon Grace Anyauche described the attitude of PG as unwelcome and totally unacceptable. "He came to a new yam festival with over two hundred security operatives. The PG has beaten people in our community who are ready to testify. " Governor Soludo should come to our rescue and help us out. Remove our PG., We don't want him anymore".

However, Mr Victor Emeka Onwudinjo from Igbolo village said the outcome of the meeting is to discuss peace and reunite as one peaceful community. We agreed to bring some representatives from both sides, the Igwe side and the PG, then bring the Enugu Agidi stakeholders forum that will pilot the affairs, the titled Ozo men. We are planning on the right date and we hope to settle amicably. It's been a long time since we started planning to have peace even outside Enugu Agidi.

Earlier in his submission, the Chief Press Secretary to Igwe Michael Okekeuche, Ichie Ifeanyi Ndulue noted that the Palace was not aware of any protest but the truth is that the Palace is aware of the pains of Enugu Agidi community. "when they took to the street, his royal Highness as a peace maker who also have the mandate of keeping peace and maintaining the unity of the town according to the laws of Enugu Agidi constitution.  I am happy that the people listened to him which shows he is generally accepted. Except for some deviant persons who are bent on destroying the town by land grabbing, intimidation, and attack". 

"Enugu Agidi has a constitution and it is the people who will decide how those who fail to pay their dues should be punished not by unilateral exclusion of people from the town hall meeting. Let me make the record straight the people that was denied entry from the meeting, part of which is the Abuja branch, they are not owing one kobo. We requested the remittance of dues in question and it was submitted to us and I can tell you we can give it out for your perusal. I was denied access except for those who were inside the hall who understand that I stand for justice and fairness to all. Though I was later allowed into the venue but the leadership of Achalla village, Etiti Village, Normu village, and Iruobieli village. The worst of it is that the chairman of Iruobieli was brutalised and beaten to a stupor, we have the videos as evidence. This is condemnable and never again will a son of the soil who came into the town for a meeting be beaten. Be it known that there was no central meeting because the traditional ruler refused to declare the meeting open as well as the refusal of some representatives of the villages mentioned herein". 

"I call on the chief security agency of Agunechemba to call his men to order not to be used for illegal purposes and we also beg Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo to call our PG to order, we assure him that Enugu Agidi will give him 100 percent votes and we hope that normalcy returns". 

Meanwhile some some of the groups that graced the occasion were the Oziokwubundu Enugu Agidi, Otu Ndi Ozo, Ulonabo Enugu Agidi, Elders in Council, Enugu Agidi Brotherly Union, Igilige Cultural groups, government officials, and friends from neighbouring towns".