NGO advances plans to restore peace in Igboland

By Everest Ezihe, Owerri

Disturbed by incessant instabilities in so many communities in Igboland, and identifying peace as the necessary pinnacle for developments and transformations, a non governmental organization (NGO) under the auspices of One Click Access Career Builders Foundation has advanced plans for earliest restoration of peace and stability in South East Nigeria.

Mr. Emmanuel Ezeji, the President of the group that’s equally non political disclosed this in a press statement he signed on behalf of the organization on Tuesday and made available to news men including newstap.com.ng with the theme: Igbo Peace Project.

Ezeji disclosed that the NGO has commenced the Igbo Peace Project starting from the communities of Amasiri and Okporojo in Oso Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

He pointed out that for years now, the South-East geopolitical region, comprising States of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu , and Imo has experienced significant economic disruption, rising insecurities, social tensions, and deepening divisions ignited by numerous agitations, wranglings and bickerings, and that efforts are now geared towards addressing the people and each community’s grievances.

He lamented that the once peaceful land of the South East has turned into a Dane of war and uncontrollable conflicts which has weakened relationships as well as slowing down development and government administrative plans in the region.

“Furthermore the consequences of prolonged conflict and mistrust have weakened community relationships and discouraged diaspora engagement in the region.

“Traditional rulers has left their ancestral homes / kingdoms to live in hotels, many have been killed, beautiful homes and mansions have grown grasses because the owners couldn’t access their homes anymore” he stated.

The President further expressed dissatisfaction on certain sacrilegious activities and abominations going on, especially as it concerns spilling of innocent blood.

Ezeji described as unfortunate the ongoing communal crisis existing between the people of Amasiri, Okporojo, oso Edda in Ebonyi State, in which there have been wanton destruction of lives and properties, stating that the news is painful given the long standing historical communal relationship between the two communities.

He commended the efforts of the Federal and State government, as well as traditional rulers, and other critical stakeholders, insisting that peaceful co-existence in Igboland should not be negotiable.

He canvassed that, “all fraying emotions should calm down, its quiet true that the South East governor’s strategic actions in handling the crisis in the region might not go well with everyone, but we urge the good people of the geopolitical zone to understand that the governors sworn oaths of allegiance to the office they hold , first and foremost they are ambassadors in terms of the protection of lives, properties and to defend the integrity of our great country, Nigeria”.

Ezeji passionately pleaded with all who seemed to have been offended as well as all the tiers of government to soften their stance and find a place to let peace in.

This he insisted that it’s not an endorsement to criminalities or bad behaviours but a plea to lessen the sufferings of the entire population of the region who are unjustly suffering in the midst of crisis that many are not in support.

The group further applauded, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces for all the efforts his administration is doing so as to sustain peace and stability in the region and enjoined him not to relent.

“It’s our clarion calls for Mr President and his cabinet members to look into the causes of the intermittent crisis and disputes in the South East and also quickly attend to the crisis in Oyibo local government area of Rivers State between Igbos, Ogonis and Eleme people as distinct people that shares the same historical affiliations”.

They also passionately appealed to His Excellency Simiinalayi Fubara, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, whom they said is a man of peace, for his administration to critically look into the ongoing crisis in Oyigbo Local Government Area.