From Okey Igwesi
Awkunanaw Civic Centre, Akpasha is our traditional home and an ancient Palace held secred by the people of Awkunanaw Osagwade .
It is an ancient home where our ancestors answer our prayers.
Our son late Chief Chiji Agbo the chairman of modern/new Awkunanaw clan knew this when he laid the foundation of this great Palace, and handed same to a great successor, and another great son of Awkunanaw Osagwade, Chief Chiyeaka Ohaa, the Odalije who worked tirelessly and saw the complession of this edifice and to what it is today.
This so-called “hosting” of Governor Peter Mba by Awkunanaw Clan on April 11 on this venue is not a celebration of the people rather – a carefully arranged political show by a handful of beneficiaries trying to impress their paymaster.
It does not in any way represent the voice, the pain and bleeding of our ancestors, worst when the venue was used negatively by these few politicians to defy the sacredness of this great home through their negative prayers against sons of umu Awkunanaw! ” Eji nwa ani ago ani ?” if we may ask !
To use this ancient home without recourse to our tradition and due process to hand a purported “ofo” to Dr Peter MBA ,the governor was not only a discretion of Awkunanaw culture and tradition but an abuse of our ancestors who must be appeased!
What exactly has Peter Mba done for Awkunanaw to deserve this purported honour?
Even as he visited and left , without a promise to even uplift the only secondary school within the home is an indication that he has not the interest of our people at heart in his journey to receive our blessings!
If we may recall , the seizure of ancestral lands in Awkunanaw; expecially in Ugwuaji, Amechi, Obeagu, Akegbeugwu are clear case in point why the prayers for him will not be answered by our ancestors !
The demolition of shops at Afor Awkunanaw market without proper compensation again is a negative reminder that the so called blessings will never work for him !
What are then the achievements we gathered to celebrate ?
Let us tell ourselves the plain truth, :
This is not a civic reception !
It is a political rally disguised as community honour by few individuals who have benefited from appointments and patronage . They cannot motegage the dignity of entire clan of
Awkunanaw . let it be known ; our clan is not for sale by political sycophants and praise singers.
(Okey Igwesi, an indigene is a Journalist, Public & Political Analyst.)
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