By Uduma Kalu
The rest of the submissions were the detainees' narrations of their kidnap or arrest experiences. They all, males, told a story of assault, shooting, torture, beating, destruction and molestation, fear and anguish for an offence they knew nothing about. Perhaps, that was Oke's biggest mistake, many in the crowd said. Very few blamed him for defending himself in his house when Nmaju attacked him. But Oke in the eyes of the same people that rooted for him lost the support immediately he used the military to waylay a medical seeking Nmaju. He lost it totally when he invaded and attacked the youth leaders and vigilante group those wee hours of the night. It was perceived by a large number of the people as an affront, a total disregard of the town and its authorities, an impunity taken too far. Oke's older brother, a policeman, was fingered by the locals as being the mastermind of the assault and terrorism in the town. The saddest part of the narratives was, perhaps, the story of the alleged pregnant woman and her lost twins.
Recommendations
After the submissions, the IOCDA executives asked the various organs of the town to go and have an izu, a caucus meeting and make recommendations.
In their submissions, the youth's, read by Noko, listed same names Noko had on his own reeled out for expulsion earlier. They asked that Oke should perform what the people call igwa ochu, an appeasement for crime for the allegedly lost twins, ban of the club said to have been founded by Oke, Noble Club, some of which members ' properties were destroyed. He called for a check on the various Isiugwu Ohafia platforms, a call he made in his earlier submission. Where the youth's recommendations started and Noko's ended was not clear to some discerning minds that murmured there.
The other arm of government, the Uke abuo, seconded the youth, with the women agreeing, adding only that the to be exiled persons should return once they showed remorse and apologized.
IOCDA RESOLUTION
But the IOCDA, after its own consultations, pended the recommendations on legal matters. Also, the union was out for peace. It said it could not agree that the people be exiled as the case was still pending, even at the court and at the police station. The detainees were on bail and only Oke could sign for them. If exiled, the bailed detainees would be rearrested as Oke would not be there to sign for them come April 8, 2025 when the matter would be called up again.
MIXED REACTIONS
Again, most of the allegations against those named for exile were yet to be determined as there were rumours that some of the allegations were products of pure envy, some people had said.
The suspension of the recommendations did not go down well with those baying youth and the family of the pregnant woman. They started to heckle the IOCDA leadership but the leadership ignored them. In fact, an order of punishment was made against disrupters of the peace. Those that did, it was alleged, were listed and later fined, including those that rang the church bell to cause panic in the town.
Intrigues Behind the Recommendations
But the vast majority of the people seemed to agree with the IOCDA. In fact, a high ranking member of the Women's Council, said the women did not initially agree to expel the group but that the club be closed. It was the youth leaders that forced the expulsion recommendation on them to agree with the Uke Abuo, she said.
Takeaways: Suggestions from the Locals
1. There must be practical approach to rein in on the marauding crowd threatening the peace of the town. While education and reorientation are important, empowerment, employment and scholarship should also be encouraged. This is not to rule out the use of intelligence agencies to fish out die hards who refuse to change.
2. There should be ban on and report to government authorities of violence and violent threatenings of people by the marauders in the town. Both Oke and Nmaju were accused of this. Reports say even elders in the council and the Ezeogo have been harassed and threatened. It seems a common practice now.
3. There must be an end to impunity. The terrorizing of people with impunity without punishment is one reason for breakdown of law and order. Oke's excesses, for example, outside the invasion of the town but in others such as slapping of Agwu in the Udumali Hall is a total affront on the entire town. Such should be met with severe punishment as deterrent.
4. There should be a channel of communication between Isiugwu Ohafia authorities ( IOCDA, Elders etc) with the leaders of the home youth and those causing menace in the town. For example, it was alleged that the angry young men felt lied to when Oke was not expelled immediately because of a pending legal issue. The young men were said to have been assured by the elders that Oke would be impressed to withdraw the cases before the open gathering. But it turned out that he didn't and because of that, he was not expelled. Such agreement, it was suggested, should be communicated fully to the group earlier so that they will know how things work.
5. Identify the troublesome youth,, as well as the violent ones, should be reported to intelligence agencies for proper action.
6. There is need to arrest the rampaging conspiracy theories, rumours and gossips that heat up the town. These were the embers that fanned the hatred between Oke and Nmaju. The real cause of the recent fight between the duo was said to have been an issue of money lending. Nmaju gives soft loans to some women who will use the interest to weed farms for him. The non adherence to this agreement by a lady debtor led to verbal insults that sparked anger and the fight. In between, it is alleged that gossips fueled the case. And these gossips, it was said, are favour seekers. But if Nmaju's frequent impunity in the town had been reined in, he would have channelled his report to the appropriate authorities, instead of taking laws into his hands, the locals explained.
Other rumours say Oke's group wants to destabilize the new IOCDA leadership, hence the mayhem in the town. Another pointed at Mr. Kalu Iro as plotting to dethrone the monarch, Ezeogo Okorie Ukpe. Oke was accused of such too. Both denied this. Oke denied this publicly at the gathering. Iro said he went to the Ezeogo to protest and deny the allegations. Another rumour said the allegation began when some Ohafia monarchs saw Iro, one time regent in Isiugwu Ohafia. That was early this year. The monarchs in their jocularly way, called him ezeogo. That remark, the rumours said, was viewed as a plot by Iro to overthrow the monarch.
So, rumours played significant place to heat up the system.
7. There should be a constitution for the Isiugwu Ohafia youth association. Those manning the home front are said not to have any rule guiding them. For example, it was said that those that served in previous administrations such as Mr. Odum Mba's should all go. But Mr. Eye Mong, present chair served there. In fact, it was said that the emergence of Eye was not to the proper knowledge of his age grade, Ajuruemea. Some members of the age grade in Mba's youth executive took him to the elders as the age grade's choice, a source said. Noko was part of the Mba executive. The present youth executive today at home is alleged to be anti Oke, hence the draconian recommendations handed over to him. Again, there seems a confusion between the youth at home and those abroad. They don't seem to be the same.
8. The Crisis Management Committee set up by the IOCDA to handle cases from dissatisfied litigants should be made of learned and principled people from all organs of the town's government, including leading elites. It should make itself available to all.
9. IOCDA should begin to fulfill its skills acquisitions promise to engage the youth as well as empower and get the youth employed. They also need assistance in their farms through funding, seedlings, fertilizers etc.
10. The youth recommendations, some hinted, seemed vindictive. Some of those listed were innocent. Perhaps, because they were doing well and were friends with Oke, they were listed. IOCDA should, therefore beware of this. A check on the personal activities of the listed people, they said, was necessary.
11. There was need for a security round Oke and co considering the threats on him at the gathering that day.
Udo Onwuka
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