*Petition govt, Oha Izhi over imprisonment of village head
BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
This was contained in an address presented by the Town Union President of the community, Comrade Solomon Nwalike at Edda Multipurpose Hall during the Oha Izhi sensitization and advocacy visit to the area.
"Most part of the villages affected by the crises cannot be accessed for farm work, hence people are denied means of livelihood. Any move to use the area for farming trigger off another crisis again. Hence, like Oliver Twist, we request more support from Izhi clan to enable these victims of the crisis feed their families and send their children to school.
"We know that, it is not in the power of the clan to make boundary adjustment but we also know that we have enough human resources to push the request for the clear declaration of the boundary between us and our neighbours to where it would be given attention."
The community people also reminded Oha Izhi of their village head, Mr Sabinus Ogbonna Mkpuma who had not been released since his alleged arrest by Department of State Security, DSS, on the 5th April, 2021.
They also complained that 'only twenty out of the forty villages' of their community have been recognized by the government.
They further requested for the assistance of Izhi clan to convince the state government to create at least two more autonomous communities out of Edda community to enable their people benefit more like others from the government.
The people, however, charged Oha Izhi to brace up peace and unite force to conquer their challenges ahead, especially to win governorship seat come 2023, saying that the clan had 'donated both land and blood to Ebonyi and deserve a place of honour in the polity of the state.'
Addressing the community, the Oha Izhi President General ably represented by the first Vice President, Chief Boniface Ezaegu, described the body as the apex socio-cultural organization in the land that stands firm for peace, unity and progress of the clan.
He consoled the people for the losses especially the death of their relatives and other harsh experiences which they had encountered due to the boundary disputes between them and their neighbouring communities, noting that Oha Izhi embarked on the sensitization and advocacy tour to ascertain the challenges facing every Izhi community in the state.
He promised the people that the Executives of Oha Izhi would interface with the Izhi Elders' Council and other critical stakeholders of the land to address their requests.
The President General also assured the people that the governorship seat of Ebonyi State come 2023 would be occupied by an Izhi child, saying that the body had made voter registration compulsory for all their people who are already 18-years and above.
He said Izhi people would collectively support any political party that zones its gubernatorial candidate to the clan, as he condemned kindred dichotomy which in his words, was fueled by selfish politicians in the land.
"In Izhi land, we are one indivisible people, and whosoever wants to inject divisions among us just because of political interest must not live. The person can't succeed! How can you allow yourself to be fooled just because of politics, you decided choosing to kill your brother, for what? If you are from Igboejima, you might be married to Unwuera, vice versa. Even your siblings and children, you don't know yet whom they will marry. This is a question of blood relationship. How can you separate one blood? Why must one destroy his future for something that can never be possible in Izhi land?," the President asked.
Eze Oketa further said that Oha Izhi has made it compulsory for every family in the land to get a copy of her constitution, to avoid contradicting the rules guiding the clan with negativities and misconceptions heralded by their rivals.
Giving overview of the constitution, the Secretary General of the body, Chief John Nkwuda explained that Oha Izhi was formerly known as Izhi Forum and the membership remains exclusive to every child from the clan.
Nkwuda stated that every role expected of all Izhi people including the functions of the village and community leaders is contained in the constitution.
He disclosed that bride price of every Izhi daughter has been made equal and should be enforced by the leadership of the community development union, emphasizing on the readiness of the body to promote their culture and traditions.
Speaking further on the cultural practices, the Oha Izhi Assistant Secretary, Prince Andrew Ekpe Nwiga recalled the effort of late Rev. Fr. Anthony Echiegu of the Blessed Memory, the first Abakaliki Indigenous Priest from Izhi extraction, in reviving their culture and preaching peace, unity and progress in the land during his lifetime.
Prince Nwiga said, it is now constitutional that every Izhi child must practice the culture of new yam festival (Ojiji), feast for all departed souls with legacies (Otutara), cultural carnival (Oboiphe), Special banquet(s) for kindred(s) (Jioke), traditional marriage ceremony, traditional burial rites including the use of cow horns (Elemini) by females during burial, among others.
On the relationship between traditional rulers and town union presidents with other community leaders, a Senior Lecturer in Ebonyi State University, Dr Friday Nkwede said, they must work collectively to drive development to their areas and equally advised them to be training their children in schools and encouraging the skilful ones to advance their potentials.
According to Nkwede, the community leaders should maintain peace and order in their respective areas of jurisdiction, tiding up all their villages and communities including streets, schools, markets, health centres, other public facilities and individual compounds.
On his part, Chief Sunny B. Ekpagu - former member Board of Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation, EBBC, said that thuggery and political violence have been condemned in Izhi land in considering their negative implications.
He advised parents not to allow their children to be used in formenting troubles in the society, warned every youth to desist from thuggery and political violence as the 2023 elections draw closer while urging them to use their voter cards to defend their preferred candidates on the election day.
Also the Legal team with the body, Barr Hyacinth Uguru and his colleague, Barr Dickson Amaga disclosed that Izhi people have stopped selling of land in their various communities.
The duo said that Izhi people only have allowed land leasing which would elapse for 99-years, starting from the day of agreement, and advised all and sundry to get a copy of the constitution of the clan for a proper guidance to avoid falling victims.
Other speakers, Augustine Akpu - the President of Association of Izhi Town Union Presidents and Vincent Uguru - the Vice President of Izhi Nnodo Youth Forum, Sunday Nwambam - President of Association of Izhi Media Workers equally advocated for oneness, peace and progress of the clan.
Therefore, the community people including Edeh Reuben Nwuguru - the Leader Abakaliki Legislative Council, Lady Virginia Oketa - a retired Permanent Secretary, Godwin Edeh - Edda National Youth Leader, Fredrick Nwegede, Ugoeze Justina Nwankwegu, Augustina Mbam, amongst others commended Oha Izhi leadership and described the advocacy visit as a huge investment for the benefit of their people, Izhi Nation and the society at large.
