By NewsCritic Reporters
Trucks load of armed Policemen have taken over Uhuokwu in Oriendu autonomous community in a bid to forestall possible break down of law and order, following plans to hold the traditional Ekpe festival at disputed Uhuokwu village Ohuhu by a group loyal to Chief Uchenna Patrick Ogbonna, today being Friday 12th January, 2024.
The Oriendu Autonomous community is said to have held its traditional Ekpe festival on the 4th of January, 2024 but a break-way faction in the community had insisted that the Ekpe cultural festival was fixed for today and not on the 4th.
In a letter signed by the DCP Okoro Chris E for the Commissioner of Police Abia State Command, which was addressed to HRH Eze Iheanyichukwu Nwokenna, Ekeoba autonomous community, the Police said their office is in receipt of a letter signed by Hon Uchenna Patrick Ogbonna indicating that there are plans to hold Ekpe traditional Festival on Friday 12, January at a location he described as Uhuokwu Village in Ekeoba autonomous community”.
The letter said that “however a letter from the office of the honourable commissioner, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, states that the location in question is in contention between two communities- Ekeoba and Oriendu. That “you are therefore, advised in the interest of peace to rescind plans to hold the said festival in Uhuokwu.
NewsCritic online reports that there has been disagreement over the fixing of the date for the Oriendu Ekpe festival. However, stakeholders argued that the date is constitutionally defined, except on special circumstances that a shift in the date can be possible.
While the expanded Eze-In-Council fixed 4th January for the Ekpe, some members of the Ekpo union canvassed for 12th January, according to our findings.
“Now, since his gun shooting misadventure during the governorship and house of assembly election in the Uhuokwu town hall, which some right thinking persons, including The Traditional Ruler condemned, Uchenna Ogbonna has been trying to assert that he is the only McCoy in Uhuokwu”, claimed a stakeholder.
