Obi Wades Into Church, Community Rift

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State has waded into the rift between the Catholic Church and some traditionalists in Awka. No fewer than 30 persons were injured on July 24 when the two groups clashed over burial rituals.
Obi,during a meeting with people of the community and some members of the State Security Council at Umudioka, Awka on Saturday, cautioned against any form of violence.
He said the government would take all necessary steps to ensure peaceful resolution of the crisis and assured that he would discuss with the Catholic Church and other principal actors in the issue.
Obi stated that his administration would continue to upgrade infrastructure to give the town a befitting capital territory status and enjoined youths to tread with caution and avoid acts capable of engendering violence as government was determined to find lasting solution to the problem.
Spokesman for Umudioka, Chief Michael Nwobu, commended Obi for his intervention, saying it was a pointer that the governor was a man of peace. The Special Adviser to the President of Inter-Party Matters and an indigene of Awka, Sen. Ben Obi, said Awka as the seat of government should remain peaceful and stable.
He said the people were proud of the achievements of the governor and highlighted the benefits of peaceful co-existence.
The President General of Awka Town Union, Mr Anthony Okechukwu, said they had made representation to the Bishop on the issue and had set up a committee to look into the matter.
Another community leader, Chief Ogugua Nwosu, observed that the governor was the first state executive to provide Awka with good governance and assured Obi that the people would maintain peace in the area.
The Traditional Prime Minister of Awka, Chief Austine Ndigwe, assured that they would continue to cooperate with the governor to ensure lasting peace.