Joshua Uturu: A Community Leader From Prison To Palace

Barely two years ago when I wrote on a famous and reputable community leader, Chief Joshua Uturu as the then President-General of Irri community on alleged murdered cases and other nefarious activities that were wickedly executed by some people in the community.

It was sad then that Irri community was on the news on daily basis concerning community leadership over some leaders who never wanted Chief Joshua Uturu to succeed in his creative leadership for the community. As a writer, I did my cross-section of interviews with some people at the community who only gave me the negative side of Chief Joshua Uturu and nothing more. Though, I did not have access to the said alleged Chief who met well for Irri community.

The news was that I came to Isoko precisely to investigate some issues on the Irri community then where some youths only gave one-sided story and while others did the same. At that time, Irri community was boiling in the sense that people hardly come home to spend their yuletide holidays including my very self as one of the Irri sons based in Lagos.

I was moved by the tears of the youths of Irri community who felt peace must be return to the community on the condition of releasing Chief Joshua Uturu from the prison. Though, I have not met Chief Joshua Uturu before in my life. According to a reliable report said some people in the community found Chief Joshua Uturu worthy to take over the Irri community leadership and he was invited from Lagos.

As a successful businessman and a Lagos Chief, he knows what it takes to run a great community like Irri and nothing more. He never hesitated to come to his community to bring formidable leadership to the people only to be painted as a wicked leader. Many alleged that Joshua Uturu was an arrogant community leader who never listens to the voice of the elders than doing his own thing but that community assumption was totally absurd and wicked.

Everybody on earth has its own weaknesses and nothing more. There is no perfect leader or person on earth except God. Chief Joshua Uturu came to restore hope for the people only to be alleged of several murdered cases. Though murdered cases were freely carried out but Joshua Uturu was alleged as the ring leader of all the crises without proper investigation. The mother of all crises were said to be carried out by Joshua Uturu in Irri community then without taking a perfunctory and cursory look at the perpetrators of this act.

Again, Chief Joshua Uturu's negative sides were published on different media describing the said alleged Chief as “wicked and callous “but his leadership legacies speak volumes of his integrity. Joshua Uturu remains one of the vibrant community leaders Isoko has ever birthed in spite of all the infamous allegations on him.

On 23rd December, 2014, the news went like wildfire that Chief Joshua Uturu has been discharged and acquitted which called for great celebration among Uturu's supporters. The release of this noble Isoko community leader was posted on the facebook on the 23rd of December 2014 by one young Isoko politician. His venture into community leadership was a call to serve his people. The fear of Uturu release is the beginning many politicians seeing this leader as a threat to political leadership in Isoko.

Whoever thought one day, Joshua Uturu will be released on bail because some felt he has been finally incarcerated for life. My apology for Chief Joshua Uturu is that I never intended to write roughly to him either somebody paid me or not but I was moved by the pains of our people in Irri community. Mindset Media Limited is all about promoting integrity in Nigeria and Delta State.

It is sad that I lived in one of the founded Irri communities where I attended my primary and secondary education before going to Lagos for greener pasture and to acquire my university education only to see high profile crises in the community in later years.Irri community belongs to everybody which my pen to bring peace to the community not crises. Chief Joshua Uturu remains the son of Isoko soil that has quality leadership to the take the people to the Promised land if given any political leadership in Isoko.

No doubt about it, Chief Joshua Uturu has birthed sons and daughters credibly doing well in their chosen careers. The release of Joshua Uturu from the prison to palace is the beginning of new community leadership in Isoko.All aggrieved parties must come out for peaceful settlement and his freedom should not be seen as a threat but to embrace peace, unity and development in Irri community.

All supporters of Joshua Uturu must also embrace peace in Irri community while those that lost their loves at the crisis should be interred with the community support. Chief Joshua Uturu is creatively trained to bring horizontal and vertical leadership in Isokoland not at the community level again. He is one of the most controversial and contentious community leaders in Isokoland.Once again, accept my apology.

Godday Odidi
Public Affairs Analyst/Mindset Media Limited
08058124798
Lagos