Nedum Noble

Stakeholders in Nnewi, Anambra state have expressed worry over various forms of injustice allegedly being meted to some non indigenes in the industrial city, particularly in the area of stalls allocation.

They insisted that non indigenes must live and do their legitimate businesses without harassment, warning that use of security operatives to harass people in the area must stop.

The stakeholders drawn from the four quarters of Otolo, Umudim, Uruagu and Nnewichi comprised individuals from the academia, commerce and industry, including member representing Nnewi North Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon Augustine Ikedoji.

Speaking separately at the residence of Chief Gabriel Chukwuma, the CEO of Gabros International, the stakeholders vowed to restore peace, justice, equity and fairness to the town.

They also maintained that a candidate from Nnewichi must succeed the current Executive Chairman of Nnewi North Local Government Council, Hon Echezona Anazodo from Umudim quarters who allegedly planned continuation of second tenure.

The stakeholders insisted that it is against the community’s 1997 rotational pact among the four quarters of Nnewi.

Other concern raised was alleged reckless unofficial melting of the Nnewi Town Union popularly called Nsuko-Ora Nnewi into the Local Government Area administration.

Addressing the gathering, Convener, Chief Chukwuma who tagged the meeting “Operation Nnewi Must Work” said efforts were to ensure that both big and small as well as non indigenes must have their say and opportunity to do their lawful businesses without any form of injustice against them.

He said, “We heard about the injustice meted to some non indigenes over stalls allocation, including using police to harass people in Nnewi. That must stop.

“Non indigenes must live and do their legitimate businesses without harassment. We will not run away for anybody.

“We must get it right now in Nnewi by pursuing this struggle to a logical conclusion to make sure normalcy returns to our community.

“We stand with our Igwe, HRH, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III and his decision must be respected by all with no exception. We reject anything contrary to that.”

Also speaking, Prof Obi Nwosu insisted that non indigenes in Nnewi should not be made to face any kind of injustice.

“We must acknowledge that Nnewi indigenes are also living in other parts of Nigeria pursuing their means of livelihood and will not like to be maltreated by their host communities,” he added.

Describing Igwe Nnewi as a law himself, lawmaker Ikedoji said any pronouncement by the royal father remained law that must not be countered by any Nnewi man or woman.

“We stand with our Igwe. This meeting is lawful. These people seated here are the government, “he said.

Others who corroborated with earlier speakers, including Chief Emma Nsoedo and Chief Eugene Nwizugbe popularly known as Anyanwu Igbo also insisted that Nnewi must get it right as they condemned any form of injustice against non indigenes in Nnewi.