Item Clamours For Chairmanship of Traditional Rulers’ Council

The scramble for the position of the chairmanship of the Abia State Council of Ndi Eze (Traditional Rulers Council) may have begun with the people of Item begging Governor Theodore Orji to give the position to them in the next dispensation.

The position is currently being occupied by the Traditional Ruler of Ossah Ibeku, Eze Hope Onuigbo. He is from Abia Cenral. He succeeded Eze Isaac Ikonne from Abia South. It appears the position would now be rotating to Abia North with Item clamoring for it.

During a visit to Governor Theodore Orji at Government House Thursday, the Item Development Assocaition (IDA), among other requests, urged the governor to “grant Item the opportunity to produce the chairman of Abia State  Council of Traduitional Rulers as it is our turn to do so given past records.”

The IDA 10-point request also included construction of a ring road for Item and rehabilitation of some of their roads; restoration of electricity supply to Item, reticulation of the rehabilitated Apanu Item Water Scheme, rehabilitation of dormitory and classrooms blocks at Item High School destroyed by rainstorm recently; creation of more wards in the area; assisting the community to complete the Police Post it has embarked upon to strengthen security in the state as well as appointment of their sons and daughters into positions of authority.

The IDA led by its President, Bishop (Dr.) Sunday Onuoha, commended the governor for granting financial support that facilitated realisation of a Micro-Finance bank in the area and for his promptly evacuating Abians from Jos during the crises in that area in January.

The group said the governor has equally done well in providing infrastructure in many parts of the state, urging him to turn his attention to Item too.

Responding, the governor commended Item people for the peace and security existing in the community, saying that Item was among the few communities in the state where he has not receive any report of kidnapping.

He, however, charged communities in the state to monitor the activities of their vigilante groups to ensure that they operate within the law and appealed to traditional rulers to help government in the area of security.

The governor noted that as a leader he could not satisfy the yearnings of all and appealed to Abiansl to be patient as the government will not intentionally neglect anyone.

According to him, people should assess his government on the number of years it has been in office as well as the resources at its disposal and promised to attend to the various requests of Item people.

He assured that in the next few weeks’ effort will be made to improve water supply and electricity in Item.