By Chuks Nwokeji
With proper understanding, deep respect to suggestions and views of relevant government agencies and other stakeholder on the need to maintain status quo on perceived challenging leadership crises, the good and peace loving people of Umulewe Autonomous Community, Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State have decided to follow the path of peaceful resolution to shun escalation of burning leadership issues facing the community.
During the yuletide the hospitable people of Umulewe Autonomous Community generally agreed to shun any temptation to carry out election of new community leaders, rather they followed the path of peace and harmonization to select and reappoint those who will head leadership positions in the community for the next 365 days, this was a great move made for harmony in order to shun escalation of leadership crises.Their action have been viewed by stakeholders, media observers and analysts as a huge sacrifice for peace, unity and progress of the community in order to avoid stagnation and retrogression.
It is worthy to note that their actions were undertaken in an atmosphere of peace, transparent and harmonious agreement that carried everybody along in decision making.
Those chosen to pilot the affairs of the community for the next 365 days included; Elder Gregory Okwara, President General, Prophet Vincent Nna Eboh, Vice President General, Ukwuneri Philip Patrick Chinonso, Secretary, Iyke Agwu Assistant Secretary and Mr Hillary Awaka Financial secretary.
There is no doubt that we live In society saddled with conflicts, discord, and division, this makes the concept of peaceful existence a beacon of hope and unity for humanity.
Peaceful coexistence touches many aspects of human activities
, such as peaceful protests, peaceful resolution, peaceful communication, peaceful activism, peaceful community, peaceful relationships, and ultimately, a peaceful mind.
The importance of peaceful coexistence cannot be waved aside because it can bring a face lift in different segments of life.
What the good people of Umulewe did with harmonization of their various leadership positions was simply a promotion of peaceful coexistence
For those who may not understand, the essence of harmony and peaceful coexistence, it promotes the ability of diverse individuals and communities, or nations to live and operate together harmoniously with respect to one another’s views, differences and mutual understanding. It calls for embracing tolerance, empathy, and compassion as fundamental principles. The significant of what the good people of Umulewe did to under harmonious environment will go along way to promote peaceful coexistence, it cannot be waved aside or overstated, as it forms the foundation for social stability, progress, and collective well-being of the community.
It is a well known fact that when a community follows the path of harmonization and embrace peaceful coexistence, they will unlock numerous advantages it presents and represents for meaningful growth and development. for instance; it promotes social cohesion, it bridges gap due to divisions, foster inclusivity and collectivity of efforts.
It is pertinent to point out that it encourages the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and cultural experiences, leading to greater innovation and creativity, it reduces violence and conflicts with safer environments for all and sundry.
In addition, it enhances growth of trust and collaboration, which are pertinent for tackling, addressing and arresting general challenges as.well as well as achieving common goals for the benefits all concerned.
In the words of Elder Gregory Okwara, Interim President General, Umulewe Autonomous Community; “our promise for the next 365 days is to unite Umulewe Autonomous Community, build brotherly love, operate open door policy, champion peace and reconciliation that will bring all our aggrieved indigenes on one page for peace, progress and development of Umulewe Autonomous Community. We want to see those who felt offended to come back, happily, join forces with all our brothers both home and abroad to build a better Umulewe Community. It is in our plans to reach out to the state government and all relevant government agencies for dividends of democracy and other developmental programs that will give Umulewe a facelift.
Those who felt offended should come back home, East, West, North or South home is the best, we have no other place we can call home except Umulewe Community, we should come under one umbrella, join hands together to lift the community up to the next level.
We are not sending anybody away, from Umulewe, we are not going to support intimidation, molestation, harassment and extortion of our people, they will see what we are going to do under patriotic, transparent and accountable leadership .
In the words of Mr Kenneth Nwosu, an illustrious son of Umulewe, “I am from Umuduruike, Umulewe, every 29th December, the good people of Umulewe Community converge for a new leadership to over see the affairs of the community, this is for convenience, progressive, luxuriant move that will make Umulewe a fructuous land.
We all know that nature does not accept vacuum, in the same manner community does not stay in emptiness or vacuum, there must be leadership showing direction and correction. What we are doing here today is for Umulewe to move forward , we have issues to sort out, we are following the path of harmony to maintain the decision and suggestions of relevant Government agencies and stakeholders.
We brought out people to be in charge of Umulewe for the next one year, there is no confrontation, no exchange of words or blows , no form of disagreement, no threat to any body, it was a peaceful gathering.
What we did here is harmonization, we maintained status quo pending when other concerned issues will be amicably sorted out.
We don’t want any tension or fight in Umulewe, what we want is meaningful government presence and development, we don’t want Umulewe people to be divided, we want Umulewe people to be united. People decide who rule them, we want to participate and benefit in government activities but we want people we are pleased with, tested and trusted sons of Umulewe. We want those who merit the position to occupy it, people with tested and trusted character, that was why we appointed these ones to over see the affairs of Umulewe for the next 365 days, they were not elected, they were appointed on interim capacity to avoid gap or vacuum that may lead to stagnation in the community.
Adding his voice; Mr
Ebere Okwara, has this to say, “the arrangement to return peace to Umulewe and move it forward under an Interim Management Committee is a welcome development. We the indigenes are satisfied with what they did in the past one year as Interim Executive of Umulewe, we appreciate them and give them another one year.
We trust their leadership arrangement to place Umulewe on the path of peace, unity and progress.
From available reports, they have proven record of accountability, transparency and productivity, their sincerity of purpose to reposition the community for good is glaring to all and sundry. I am fully in support of them to keep moving the community forward on the path of peace, development and patriotic efforts.
Others who spoke during the event charged the newly selected Community Leaders in Umulewe to keep on with their good works, ensure that total peace returns to the community with monumental growth and development that will be a reference point of good example for both present and future generations.
