Community celebrates as government ends 40-year-old autonomous system

The people of Enugwu village, Adazi-Enu community, in the Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, have celebrated the decision of the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to an end to a 40-year-old autonomous system and the agitations for the creation of autonomous communities in their domain and other parts of the state. The development came after the decision of the Supreme Court voiding autonomous community system. Thousands of residents of the community gathered at the village square on Sunday, where they celebrated to express their support for the decision, as well as show gratitude to the governor for putting an end to the age-long system. Autonomous community system is a way of balkanisation of existing communities into smaller units as “autonomous communities” and it is one major source of communal crisis in many Igbo communities, fuelling crisis and border disputes across communities over the years. Findings by our correspondent showed that indeed, all the communal crises in Igbo land could be traced to land disputes or after effect of balkanisation of communities; either through rejection of the action by some residents or struggle over who becomes the monarch of the new autonomous community. This has pitched families, brothers and sisters against each other, leading to lingering enmity and it is no surprise that the people of Enugwu village, Adazi-Enu community, are expressing their excitement that the governor is putting an end to the autonomous system. Across the states in the South-East region – Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi – autonomous system generated more crisis than peace. In some cases, they end up in the courts. In some states, communities are currently in crises over autonomous community issue, especially the choice of who becomes the monarch. These developments have created wide range of legal battles and lingering distrust. Recall that Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, had last week, declared that autonomous communities in Anambra State will no longer exist, following what he described as a final resolution of a long-standing legal battle that had moved from the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court. In a video clip that circulated online, the governor addressed the issue of community autonomy in Anambra State. In the video, Soludo said the Supreme Court judgment has effectively settled the matter, describing it as having “buried” the issue of autonomous communities in Anambra State. Related News Democracy not perfect, but better than alternative – Soludo Anambra First Lady visits abused 10-year-old in