Boundary dispute: Monarch demands amendment of community’s constitution

By Tony Edike

ENUGU—The traditional ruler of Enugu Urban 1 autonomous community in Enugu North Local Government Area, Igwe Moses Nnamdi, has asked the state government to compel Enugu-Ngwo community to expunge chapter 5 of its constitution that tend to suggest that parts of his community was under the control of Enugu Ngwo.

Igwe Nnamdi in a-four page statement, alerted the state government that despite the rulings on its white paper issued after a judicial panel of inquiry into Enugu Ngwo civil disturbances in 2005, Enugu Ngwo village had not, as ordered by the state government, expunged chapter 5 of their constitution which claimed that some parts of Enugu Ngwo community were located at Ajagu/Agangwu community enacted as Enugu urban 1 autonomous community in Enugu North Local Government Area.

The monarch maintained that as far back as 2005, Enugu State Government had on page 10 of its white paper issued after the findings of the Judicial panel of enquiry into the disturbances by Enugu Ngwo youths, stated that Igwe I.O.U Ayalogu of Ngwo Assa autonomous community in Udi LGA “is not and cannot be the traditional ruler of another autonomous community in Enugu North LGA.”

The white paper stated in page 4 that Enugu Ngwo village which is located in Udi LGA does not have any of its own components in Enugu North LGA.

The white paper also stated on page 4 that the Enugu State Government shall set up a committee to re-write the Enugu Ngwo constitution and especially to delete chapter 5 of the old constitution of Enugu Ngwo which claimed that Enugu Ngwo village has some of its geographical locations in Enugu North Local Government.

Igwe Nnamdi, therefore, asked the state government to pursue to a logical conclusion the implementation recommendations of the 2005 white paper to avoid another civil disturbance and to clearly confine the two autonomous communities to their distinct territories.
Reacting to a publication that placed disclaimer on him as having ceased to be the mere head of Ajagu/Agangwu (Enugu Urban1), Nnamdi stated that he has never held such position in his life, explaining that he was duly selected, presented and was functioning as the traditional ruler of enacted Enugu urban 1 autonomous community.

The monarch called on the general public to disregard the disclaimer on him, describing the publication as unlawful, libelous, worthless and offensive to Ngwo clan.

He recalled that in 1988, he was initiated and admitted as a member of Ozo Ngwo and later a member of Ubelenze Ozo Ngwo, the highest titled body in the entire Ngwo clan.
“I held the highest post of President of this highest titled body in Ngwo for a record and longest period of 12 years from 1996 to 2008 when I voluntarily withdrew to become its President emeritus,” the Monarch said.