Stakeholders of Owerre Nchi Ise, gathered at Owerri Peace Summit, at the weekend, where they adopted the report of a Fact Finding/Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which among other things, recommended ways of moving Owerre Nchi Ise forward.
At the summit, a new interim executive of Owerri Community Assembly, OCA, was inagurated.
The interim executives was led by Mr Osuji Ndidi Emmanuel (Orufe) and was inaugurated at the Summit, to chart a way forward for Owerre Nchi Ise and organize OCA elections in the future.
Other members of the interim executives are Barr Marshall Anthony Emeana (Secretary), Mr. Raphael Njemanze, Glory Mbanu (Phd) and Mr. Wisdom Emerole.
The inauguration of the interim executives of OCA was part of the recommendations of the Age Grades which was adopted at the summit.
The Fact Finding Committee led by the Chief Priest of Owerre Nchi Ise, Mr. Reginald Nwakom Ejiogu, had in the past four months embarked on consultations with key and strategic leaders in of Owerri at home and abroad.
The summit was held at Umuihugba Umuodu Community Hall, Owerri.
The Committee in its report had focused on burning issues affecting Owerri people and its traditional institutions such as the Eke Ukwu Owerre market, Ugwu Ekwema, Owerre Community Assembly (OCA), the Age grades, Oha Owerre, Mgboto Owerre, Nde Ndom Owerre, etc.
In the report, it made far reaching recommendations aimed at proffering solutions to issues stunting the progress and development of the good people of Owerre Nchi Ise.
In his opening remarks at the summit, the Chief Priest of Owerre (Onye Ishi Ala Owerre), Ejiogu noted that Owerri people were drifting apart for a long period.
“In Owerri, Everyone is on his own. Our Age Grades system has been desecrated.
“Some of them are factionalized. Non Indigenes now head our Age Grades. A lot has gone wrong in Owerri Nchi Ise.
“Our Women group (Ndom Owerre), do have 15 President Generals. This tells you the level of division amongst them.
“There is also Youth restivenes. Our Youths no longer want to learn a trade. They are more concerned about toll collection at markets and motor parks.
“The number of Nde Oha (Elders) have declined so badly that only 6 is left. This is worrisome and disturbing.
“The essence of the meeting is for Owerri people to have a heart to heart talk to sort out our differences to enable us move forward.
“We need to champion a new cause. A Fact Finding Committee has prepared a report which we want our people to deliberate on at the summit.
“After the summit, we should be able to move forward. The summit or Round Table is not a political rally. We will not entertain politicians and rallies at the summit.We have invited specific people to the event”
He said the Oru Owerre festival calendar has been not been adhered, including the normal delicacies used for the event.
“The Ugwu Ekwema Civic Centre, has been abandoned and neglected to rot away. This is unacceptable.
“The normal New Yam roasting has been overtaken by cooking of rice and other foreign foods which is a descreation of Owerri culture” he said.
He expressed regret that the disunity in Owerri has greatly affected the reverred Oru Owerre Cultural festival.
“Anytime we want to celebrate Oru Owerre, it becomes a problem. It has gotten so bad that policemen take over the event whenever the event wants to take place.
“Security report about the festival is disturbing, our people resort to writing petitions upon petitions before the event.
“State Governors no longer attend our cherished Oru Owerre Festival. But they do attend similar festivals in Orlu, Oguta and Mbaise. There is no more regard for our Oru Owerre festival”
Other speakers at the event aligned with the views of the Chief Priest, calling for the adoption of the report, as a way forward for Owerri people.
The summit was attended by all the traditional rulers of five autonomous communities in Owerri and their President Generals, Age Grade Leaders and their members members, Nde Mgboto, Youth leaders.
Others are former Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of Imo State, Ndukwe Nnawuchi(SAN), Special Adviser to the Governor of Imo State, CP Dan Okoro (rtd),Willie Amadi, Chief Technical Adviser to the Governor on Environment, former E&P Executive Chief Engineer, Charles Ngoka, former Mayors of Owerri, Hon Ambrose Nkwodimma, Hon Alex Ojiri, Chief Sam Oparaku, Hon (Mrs) Angela Akunna, Mr. Gerald Emeyonu, Hon Jude Agbugba, Glory Mbanu, Chief Oliver Nnawuchi, Barr Sam Ejiogu and many others.