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Rejoinder: Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe Clarifies His Roles in Igweship Tussle in Nnobi Town, Anambra State, Nigeria
New York --- Earlier in the morning our publisher received 2 missed telephone calls from a number in Vienna, Austria and at exactly 12.49 p.m., April 15, 2009 New York time, the number showed up again on his handset and caller was Ambassador Jerry Sonny Ugokwe, Nigerian Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna; a prominent native of Nnobi town, Idemili Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. The soft-spoken Ambassador Ugokwe called to point out his feelings and clarify his roles in the Igweship tussle rocking his hometown, Nnobi in Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. On January 26, 2009 we had reported a story that Anambra State Command of the Nigerian Police Force had on January 3, 2009 assaulted the Palace of Nnobi monarch, Igwe Nicholas M. Obi during Catholic Eucharistic Mass officiated by about 30 priests (including a Vicar and a Monsignor, representatives of the Bishops of Nnewi and Onitsha Arch-Diocese), about 5 Nuns and about 5 Reverend Brothers. Sources at the Igwe’s palace, some members of the Nnobi town, and local press in Nigeria issued statements, documents and publications linking Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe to the crisis. However, in the telephone conversation with our publisher (Mr. Bonaventure Ezekwenna) Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe clarified and summarized his roles and aims, his efforts and his attempts to broker peace in his town, Nnobi. Ambassador Ugokwe added that his roles and aim is no other than peaceful resolution of the Igweship tussle to avoid its development into regrettable consequences. Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe made it clear that he does not support any contestant to the Igweship throne; he further stated that he had, and still has no interest on who becomes the Igwe Nnobi. All he wants is peaceful resolution of the matter so that peace will rein in his hometown.
Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe added that, as an illustrious and exalted son of the town, he received a lot of calls and pressure from within his town and outside of his town, including the Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, urging him to intervene to settle the Igweship tussle. Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe further stated that he obliged and scheduled a meeting in his hometown residence for December 24, 2008. Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe further stated that he sent written invitation to some prominent indigenes of the town, including the contestants to the Igweship throne. He further stated that he personally went to the residence of some of the invited guests, including the monarch Igwe Nicholas Obi, and gave him a written invitation a night before the scheduled meeting, and that he had a good rapport with the monarch. Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe stated that he was disappointed that the monarch, Igwe Nicholas Obi did not honor his invitation to the meeting. Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe expressed displeasure that some mischievous individuals are using his peaceful attempts to resolve the Igweship tussle for other nefarious purposes. Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe requested a rejoinder from Africans In America News Watch to reflect his explanations, position and interest. Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe also informed our publisher that he is contesting the governorship of Anambra State in upcoming election. He added that his campaign is in high gear. Our publisher discussed with Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe for a while and requested him to send a written response, and pledged to publish it in full on our website. Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe stated he would not send a written response because he does not want to join issues with the people twisting his roles for whatever purposes. Our publisher also requested Ambassador Ugokwe to have one of his aids send us a written rejoinder, but the ambassador was not quite receptive to doing so. Africans In America News Watch wants to state that; though we would have preferred to obtain and publish a written response from Ambassador Ugokwe, and in absence of that we decided to state the fact as usual. The fact being that our dear Ambassador Jerry Sonny Ugokwe, Nigerian Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna; a prominent native of Nnobi town called to clarify his aims and roles in the Igweship tussle rocking his hometown, Nnobi in Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. We also want to state that Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe’s telephone conversation with our publisher which lasted for 17 minutes 31 seconds was very polite, respectful and cordial. We believe that this piece is a sufficient rejoinder that further clarifies Ambassador Jerry Sonny Ugokwe’s roles in the Nnobi Igweship matter. Furthermore; if Ambassador Jerry Sonny Ugokwe decides to send his written rejoinder in future and request that we publish it, we shall gladly consider that request. Africans In America News Watch is highly commended and well respected because of our strict commitment to community empowerment through accurate reporting and events analysis. Our objective simply remains to report and publish any factual article, which has informational, educational, news, socio-cultural, socio-economic, socio-political value and other potentials to engineer progressive developments and positive change. More simply put, any factual information for the betterment and improvement of society and humanity. Our ultimate aim is to heighten public awareness, provide free market place of ideas, insightful and provocative thoughts from the right, left, center and all ideologues on African issues. Africans In America News Watch
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