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By Madu Obi
After years of crisis propelled by alleged land grabbing, peace has finally returned at Ogwuari Community, Nsugbe in Anambra East local government area of Anambra State.
At the inauguration of the executive members that emerged after the protracted crisis, the stakeholders pleaded with the people to forget the past and focus on the future.
Chairman of the Anambra State Physical Planning Commission, Chief Chike Maduekwe, who chaired the ceremony that attracted people from other parts of Anambra State, observed that Ogwuari has become one of communities supporting the state government's new vision of ensuring a liveable state.
"We want to be hearing only good stories from this community. There must be peace and progress and if you give the new leadership the necessary support, more progress will be achieved and by so doing, you will be identifying with the vision of Governor Chukwuma Soludo", he said.
The national chairman of Ogwuari Community, Pastor Lawrence ifejika, attributed the return of peace in the area to God's divine intervention.
Ifejika said: "This is a special day for Ogwuari people and everybody is excited. The joy of our people stemmed from years of bondage that led to the crisis."
"Some of our youths tried to enslave us by cornering the resources meant for the entire community, but this time around, everybody is united in one voice, including the youths themselves, elders, and women married in the community and our daughters married outside the community, who jointly said that enough is enough.
"They all vowed that Ogwuari must have a credible leadership and I consider it a privileged to be chosen as the national chairman of this community. I am greatly humbled and I see it as a thing of joy.
"By God's grace, we will salvage our community and right the wrongs in Ogwuari community".
Ifejika promised that seven youths from the community would be sponsored to study abroad, while his leadership had paid WAEC fees for some indigenes pf the community.
"My emergence was as a result of the support I received from many stakeholders who believe that Ogwuari should rise again and we are determined to achieve it", he stated.
The chairperson of the organizing committee, Lady Chito Osili commended the state government for contributing to the return of peace in the community and supporting the process that led to the emergence of the new executive members.
Osili, who is a Director in the state Ministry of Youth Development, recalled that the crisis tore the community apart, adding that her committee had to invite a lawyer for proper documentation of the election and to stamp legal authority on the exercise.
She said: "In the past, those elected refused to vacate office at the expiration of their tenure and this was the genesis of the crisis. But with the new law, the leaders now have four- year tenure after which another set of people will be elected."
"This time around, everything is spelt out and there won’t be a question of tenure elongation."
"The Ogwuari communal land generates substantial money and if properly managed, would get to everybody. But some people wanted to corner everything, which was the cause of the problem."
"All the people that were opposed to unity have now decided to fall in line and are part of this inauguration because they have no choice. If one didn’t associate with the inauguration, then the person does not belong to this community".
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