A former chairman of Anambra West Local Government Area and chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Hon. Simon Onuora has expressed deep frustration over the rising spate of violence and bloodshed in the Omambala area of Anambra State, blaming idolatry and fetish practices for the recurring communal clashes.
In a strongly worded statement titled “Ndi Omambala, Shame on You!”. Onuora lamented that the Omambala people have become infamous for resorting to violence and charms (Nkpu/Odeshi) in settling disputes rather than embracing dialogue processes like other Igbo communities.
“How would umu Igbo be viewing us, Ndi Omambala, when they have to send security agents every now and again to stop us from self-destruction? When Umu Igbo disagree over land and other issues, they head to the courts. But in Omambala, the first thing is to fetch ‘Nkpu and Odeshi’ and reach for guns as if going for a hunting expedition,” he said.
Onuora regretted that the mere mention of Omambala now evokes the image of a primitive, bloodthirsty, and barbaric people. According to him, this perception is sadly reinforced by the reality on the ground, as many communities in Omambala land are filled with idol shrines competing for space with residential buildings.
“Be it known that where there is a prevalence of idolatry and deities, there is bound to be avoidable bloodshed from time to time. Check out Awka town, Ijaw nation, parts of Nasarawa, Benue, and Kogi states. In fact, all riverine towns are guilty of this situation in varying degrees,” he stated.
The APGA stalwart further attributed the resurgence of violent clashes in the region to what he described as an “idolatry revival,” fueled by the mad quest for quick wealth, popularly known as “Ego Mbute.”
He warned that as long as Omambala people continue to hold on to certain aspects of their ancestors’ fetish practices, peace will remain elusive in the region.
“The only permanent solution to Omambala violent clashes is to jettison certain aspects of the lives of our ancestors. Ironically, there’s an idolatry revival going on presently in Omambala because of Ego Mbute,” he added.
Hon. Onuora’s statement comes on the heels of recent violent clashes between communities in Anambra East and Anambra West local government areas, which left several people dead and properties destroyed.
His remarks have sparked widespread reactions across Omambala area, with many describing his outburst as a wake-up call for the people to reflect on their ways and embrace peaceful means of conflict resolution.
Note that a few weeks ago, it was between two families in Anam and Aguleri that escalated and involved the whole of Anam and Aguleri. Today, according to reports, Umueri and Aguleri have engaged in another violence.
