Dimapur, January 15 (MExN): The Unger Village Council (UVC): today stated that the “unwarranted actions and orders circulated by Ao Senden through local media in utter disregard of the time tested and much honoured customary laws being practiced in all Ao villages is highly deplorable.” It termed the action of the Ao Senden in issuing quit notice to Minister for Highways, Nuklutoshi, as “unacceptable.”
“The deliberate usurping of the powers vested with the Ao village authorities, more particularly the Tatar Menden by Ao Senden is totally condemnable. Aos ourselves should not dismantle the very fabric of the Ao customary laws which every Ao citizen is proud of,” the UVC stated.
It further expressed concern at the “contradictory statements made by Ao Senden.” “On 9th January 2017, Ao Senden issued a strongly worded quit notice to the leader using derogatory languages, which was widely circulated through mass media. Immediately thereafter, on 12th January 2017, they stated that the decision to remove him was taken in order to save his life and situation. Such actions only go on to suggest that Ao Senden is today taken for ransom by few individuals with vested interest,” it stated.
The UVC appealed to all “right thinking citizens of Ao community to work towards regaining the honour and dignity of the Aos which were earned through hard work and sacrifices of our forefathers.”
In order to achieve this, it advised that “the entire set up and hierarchy of Ao Senden needs to be overhauled through proper democratic and participative processes.” It appealed to the entire Ao citizenry that a serious debate towards this end be initiated at the right platform “before the entire Ao community become victims of the hegemony of oligarchic dominion.”
