The Oyigbo/ Asa Clan Assembly in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State comprising of Oyigbo Urban, Obeama, Izuoma, Kom-Kom, Mirinwanyi and Ogboso has made a bold statement to take charge of its environment henceforth.
Rising from a large consultative meeting during the yuletide, stakeholders made it clear that it would no longer be business as usual in the area with the non- indigenes in their midst.
Firstly, the people appreciated all that their Paramount Ruler ,HRH Eze [Dr] Mike Nwaji, Eze oha Oyigbo kingdom has been doing in course of piloting their affairs and not only passed a confidence vote on him but promised to give him all the necessary support to soar higher.
The communiqué further stated that Oyigbo/Asa Clan and indeed the local government area is in Rivers state and as such part and parcel of the Niger Delta Region and consequently believes and supports its struggle for political and socio-economic emancipations
Reviewing the aftermath of the otherwise peaceful #ENDSARS protest of last year with its attendant destruction and killings which they noted was hijacked by hoodlums the union commended the intervention of the Federal and Rivers state government to restore sanity in the area.
While appreciating the efforts of the soldiers and other security operatives in the restoration of peace in the area, the Oyigbo /Asa clan Assembly appealed for the extension of their stay in order to forstal possible reprisal attack from the regrouped miscreants.
They however further appealed that the soldiers abide by the rulers of their engagements as they stay.
The union equally supports the proscription of all faceless groups in their midst whose activities they noted are inimical to the peaceful co-existence of the people and residents of Oyigbo .
As a result of an all inclusive meeting held by the indigenes and representatives of the non-indigenes living in Oyigbo , the union resolved to strongly support the total proscription of all unwarranted activities of faceless groups in any part of Oyigbo/Asa Clan land.
The communiqué further revealed that henceforth the non-indigenes shall ensure that tenants living in their houses are not members of the proscribed groups nor would they directly or indirectly participate in activities considered to be threat to the mutual existence of the people .
”On no account shall the non-indigenes float parallel bodies such as CDC, Youth organizations Chieftaincy Councils, security outfits etc. of their own exception of their normal town union meetings. They shall be abided and loyal to the indigeonous bodies”, they said.
The Oyigbo/Asa clan Assembly made it clear that the non-indigenes living in their midst shall only concentrate on their legitimate means of livelihood or business, adding that it would no longer tolerate any demeaning attitude and character including hooliganism, cultism, gangsterism, robbery, and insurbordination , etc. among them .
They warned that defaulters of this new orders shall be severely punished accordingly.
In his contribution, the Paramount Ruler HRH Eze [Dr] Mike Nwaji [JP] thanked the union for coming to the resuce . He appreciated them for the confidence vote passed on him. but feigned ignorance of what he has done to merit the award .
The monarch used the opportunity to appeal to the authorities concerned to lift the curfew imposed on the local government area as a result the destructive protest which he noted is biting hard on the residents.
While thanking all the stakeholders especially his councils of chiefs for their cooperation , Eze Nwaji promised to support the Oyigbo/Asa Clan Assembly to achieve set goal .
He appealed to the CDC and Youth body to live up to their responsibilities especially on the sanitation and dealing with the indiscriminate parking of vehicles on the roads Speaking with newsmen at the sideline of the events , the Oyigbo Palace Secretary ,chief [Rev] Precious Eruweruka maintained that Oyigbo people are indeed Igbos by origin. ”Any Oyigbo person who says that he is not an Igbo man or woman perhaps for personal gains needs his/her head examined because during the merger, the authorities knew we are Igbos and we can’t deny our Igborism for whatever reason,” he declared.
The person who denies the obvious, his/her geonology and pedigree should be thoroughly investicated whether he is truly an Oyigbo /Asa man ” Enweruka challenged anybody with contrary views to a television debate with him”
He clarified that Oyigbo people are not against the non-indigenes in their midst perse but only appealing to them to concentrate on their businesses and not to interfere in their traditional values or chieftaincy institution as they would no longer tolerate such trespasses .
”We should not be misunderstood , we are not asking the non-indigenes to leave our land but only asking that our values, tradition and customs should be respected”
Chief Enweruka further disclosed that any of the non-indigenes who distinguishes himself and has contributed to the development of the clan, nothing stops the person from earning a chieftaincy title and even admitted into the Oyigbo Council of Chiefs Forum.
Also speaking ,the chairman of a group under the aegis of Rivers Indigenous Forum, Oyigbo , Mr. Igwe C. Princewill said they are in support of anything that would restore the dignity of the Rivers man/woman including healthy competition with the non-indigenous elements in commerce and economic ventures as according to him ”we are lagging behind”.
Meanwhile , the group had gone for a thanksgiving to God at the Assemblies of God church, No. 10 Believers close, Oyigbo to celebrate God’s faithfulness on them especially throughout the year 2020 with its attendant hardship .
