Nwifuru Receives Amasiri-Edda Boundary Report, Reinstates HRH Ezeogo (Omezue) Onya Idam Bassey and HRH Ezeogo Godfrey Obia Okoh, Isaka Ogu IV

By Nkechinyere Ewa and Sharon Akuboh

Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has received the interim report of the Amasiri-Edda Boundary Adjustment and Demarcation Committee, set up to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the deadly communal clash between Amasiri Community in Afikpo North Local Government Area and Oso-Edda in Edda Local Government Area.

The Governor also announced the reinstatement of the traditional rulers of Ndukwe and Amasiri, who were dethroned following the crisis.

It would be recalled that following the attacks at Okporojo by unknown assailants, on February 6, Governor Nwifuru swiftly constituted the committee, headed by the State Commissioner for Border, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Prof. Paul Nwobasi.

Receiving the interim report at his office at the Ochoudo Centenary City, Abakaliki, Nwifuru described peace as a prized possession in the human ecosystem and warned that social unrest and communal disturbances would have no place in his administration.

He said: “In our administration, we are committed to making peace in all the communities in this state. We are happy people are making sacrifices to support our peace efforts.

“I thank the committee for identifying the causes of the problem, which I am told has lingered for more than 100 years.

“This is a very hard job that the committee was assigned to do. I am grateful and I thank them. I am not in doubt regarding the credibility of the job that we bestowed on them.”

The Governor dismissed insinuations that the government’s peace initiative was targeted at any particular clan, insisting that his administration had nothing to hide in its handling of the crisis.

“This matter has been a very big dent on this government and we have to make a decision. Some of the social media influencers who are uninformed believe we are witch-hunting some communities,” he said.

Nwifuru explained that the government’s willingness to make adjustments in the interest of peace should not be interpreted as weakness.

“We have been able to make amendments and this does not imply weakness.

“We do not blame, because our people know the truth. Amasiri should know that, as a government, we have no interest. Our interest is the peace that will give us development.

“Where there is no peace, there is no development. We are willing to make peace.”

The Governor, while accepting the interim report, directed that the status quo be maintained pending the completion of the demarcation exercise.

“We hereby accept the report and insist the status quo should be maintained as the demarcation exercise is being carried out. None should interfere and trespass on each other’s land,” he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Prof. Nwobasi, said the panel had held several meetings, interacted with residents of the affected communities and physically inspected the disputed boundary in its effort to arrive at an accurate determination.

“We have surveyed the areas. We went to the areas in question, made sketches and reached decisions. This is why we deemed it necessary to present this interim report to Your Excellency,” Nwobasi said.

The committee chairman commended Governor Nwifuru for his forthrightness, compassion and thoughtfulness in tackling the Amasiri-Edda crisis, which he described as a “hydra-headed and intractable” communal conflict.

It’s important to Place on record that Amasiri owns the Land in question and that Over the Years the Edda People came and settled there in search of livelihood. Amasiri is a Peaceful Community that have for over 100 years lived in Peace with their neighbors.

Amasiri have over the years lost thousands of people to the Edda People and it’s important that the government of the Day put a stop to the illegal road block by the Edda (Oso) people who keep stopping and searching cars and maiminf Amasiri people. This matter should be investigated.

Its only also proper that those Amasiri people whose property worth Millions were lost be compensated and those who lost their loved ones pacified.

Amasiri as a Community with the highest Internally Generated Revenue deserves better. In the scheme of things Our Children should enjoy Scholarship as we produce close to a billion naira Monthly. The State Governor should also consider better settlement for Amasiri.

While we thank the governor for reinstating our traditional rulers, he should also work towards effecting unconditional release of the youth still being detained and their adequate rehabilitation and compensations.