Umuona Community in Aguata LGA of Anambra state, yesterday made a loud statement and history as well by electing a new Traditional Ruler, after the Anambra state government dethroned the former traditional ruler Humphrey Ejesieme after an in-depth investigation about the running battle in the community between the throne and the town union.
Recall that the former traditional ruler has been at daggers drawn with the elected President General of the community, Chief Kenneth Okoye(Ide Umuona) over issues bordering on ethics and respect for the office of the PG. Umuona Community in Aguata LGA, is the first community to have a new IGWE in the administration of Prof Charles Soludo.
In a keenly contested election, Chief Sunday Ikechukwu Ezeofor emerged the traditional ruler elect for Umuona Community with 115 votes to beat his closet rival in the person of Prof Akaolisa Ezeagu.
In his acceptance speech the new Igwe elect of Umuona Community, Chief Sunday Ikechukwu Ezeofor thanked members of the community for finding him worthy to be their traditional ruler. He said that " it's a thing of honor that my people today with one voice through the ballot made me a servant to them, and i promise to serve them to the best of my ability"
He promised to bring back peace in Umuona and asked that all hands should be on deck to ensure a peaceful transition. He called on all stakeholders in Umuona to close ranks to move the community forward. He also thanked the governor of Anambra state, Prof Charles Soludo for being proactive in solving the leadership issues in the community, and promised to work with the government to ensure peace, stability and development in Anambra.
In the same vein, the President General of Umuona Community, Chief Kenneth Okoye (Ide Umuona) thanked God for what he did for Umuona and commended the community for coming out in their numbers to elect a new traditional ruler. He however tasked members of the community to join hands to develop the community and prayed that the new Igwe will not follow the footpath of the previous traditional ruler, reason he was dethroned by the government of Anambra state. He congratulated the new traditional ruler elect and prayed that God should give him the wisdom to pilot the affairs of the community.
The member representing Aguata II at the state house of assembly, Hon. Tony Muobike while interacting with our correspondent thanked God for the change of leadership in his community. He as well, called on all stakeholders of the community to support the new traditional ruler to ensure that peace returns to Umuona Community.
He said " it's unfortunate that Umuona my community is breaking the records by all standards, while what we witnessed today only happens at the demise of a traditional ruler, ours is different because the former Igwe was dethroned by the state government. I congratulate the new traditional ruler and promise to work with him to achieve the needed development for Umuona Community"