Last Updated on: 12th April 2023, 11:41 pm
The former minister for tourism, wildlife and antiquities Jovino Akaki Ayumo has said politics is to blame for the leadership squabble which is currently threatening to tear apart Oyima clan.
It should be recalled that Oyima, a clan to which former President, Dr. Apollo Milton Obote belonged, was one of the most peaceful clans in Lango until the demise of Akbar Adoko Nekyon, last year.
Immediately after Akbar’s death, several political big wigs in the clan have been struggling to fit in their shoes.
In doing so, they want to lead the clan as Awitong (clan chief). Ideally, Mike Ogwang Olwa Veve, the Lira municipality mayor who heads all the “rwode” in Oyima clan should have assumed the position of Awitong, replacing Nekyon but this never.
This was impossible after Maxwell Akora, the Maruzi County MP, “threw some spanners in the work”.
Akora, early this year mobilized massively and first kicked Olwa Veve from his position of “Rwot Adwong”, caused an election which declared him (Akora) the new Awitong of Oyima clan, but this election was widely castigated, till now!
On Saturday (last week), TND News caught up with former minister Akaki in senior quarters, Lira town where a meeting of clan elders of Oyima was held at the home of Mayor Olwa.
“I have realized that political interest is at the center of the leadership problem we are currently facing in Oyima clan,” Akaki disclosed.
He said Oyima has produced several politicians across the political divides and in his words, it appears some wants to use their political weight to take over the position of Awitong.
This however seemed to be an indirect attack on Maxwell Akora who early this year assumed the position of Awitong but faced resistance.
Akaki who lost in the race for Apac municipality MP on NRM ticket, suggested that the clan can only remain peaceful if active politicians within Oyima desist from mixing clan issues with their political interest.
“Like for me I would not contest for this position of Awitong because it is obvious that I am a politician and I have got interest,” Akakki asserted.
Meanwhile on Saturday, the clan chiefs (Rwode) resolved and created a council of elders headed by Mzee Engena Amaitum who was also appointed and sworn in as the interim Awitong of Oyima clan, pending “true, open, accountable elections”.
In his acceptance speech, Mzee Engena said: “I came here in this meeting because I want to see a vibrant Oyima clan with a united people, but now you have given me yet another responsibility which I wasn’t prepared for but because I want peace, I accept it”.
On the other hand, Apac district speaker Emmanuel Obong Acuda and Reverend Dickens Obiny were given responsibilities of advisors to the clan.
By the time of filing this story, this contemporary online newspaper could not draw comments from Mr. Maxwell Akora, the jilted clan chief and he was yet to reply our calls and text messages on his known cell phone.
To comment on this story call or email: 0703644133 frankygold22@gmail.com