BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
All the contractors awarded the ring roads cutting across Abakaliki, Ebonyi and Izzi Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State, by Governor David Nweze Umahi's led administration have been assured of their security while carrying out their activities in any part of the councils.
Oha Izhi President General, HRH Eze S.N Oketa gave the assurance on Saturday during the advocacy and sensitization visit by the officials of the organisation to Izhi Inyimegu Autonomous Community in Izzi Local Government Area of the state.
The President General was speaking at the heels of a reported case on security threats against some contractors undertaking the ring road project in some parts of the state.
Eze Oketa, the Onuoha III of Nkaleke Echara Autonomous Community said that Oha Izhi Nnodo remains resolute in promoting peaceful co-existence among Izhi people, strangers in their land and the neighbourhoods, especially in driving development to their towns and communities.
"In Izhi land, we are known as a peace living people and lovers of strangers ,,- nothing will stop our accommodative spirit. So, we must always make sure that those working on the ring roads cutting across Izhi communities in Abakaliki, Ebonyi and Izzi Local Government Areas are well take care of, especially on their security. Oha Izhi is happy with our able Governor, for awarding this ring road, and our assurance is that, the security of the workers are guaranteed in Izhi land," the President General stated.
He also commended Govenor David Nweze Umahi's developmental strides in the state, saying his performance in his current office remained laudable and prayed for his successful emergence as the President of Nigeria come 2023.
Oketa said the body has made voter registration compulsory for every Izhi child at the age of eighteen years and above, noting that the enforcement would commence soon.
He urged all Izhi children living outside Ebony State to do the continuous voter registration (CVR) or transfer the already registered ones to any polling unit alotted to Izhi villages, to ensure their votes count in producing credible leaders, especially the President of the country and the governor of the state come 2023 elections.
"In 2023, Izhi son will become the Governor of Ebonyi State and our prayer is that our amiable Governor, Chief David Nweze Umahi will move to Aso Rock as the President of Nigeria, because of his good works in our state," Oketa said.
Lending his voice, the Oha Izhi Secretary General, Chief John Nkwuda said, unlike before, the clan has currently a constitution, serving as a guiding compass of the people, and urged individual families to get at least a copy to know the rules and regulations guiding the clan and to avoid falling victims of its provisions.
Nkwuda said that 'the constitution allows every Izhi cultural practice, which promotes peace and unity, championing human welfares and general development, but condemns kindred dicotomy, criminal activities including robbery, burglary, thefts, rape, cultism, notorious litigant, political thuggery, killings, among others in their land.
On his part, the Oha Izhi Vice President, Chief Boniface Ezaegu enumerated the achievements of the organisation, which included the reconciliation of the conflict between Izhi community, Enyigba in Abakaliki LGA and that of her brotherly clan - Enyibuchiri in Ikwo Council Area, their intervention during the Fulani herders' attack on the people of Nwori Nduobashi in Ndiegu Ishieke Autonomous Community, etc.
He advised the people to be promoting Izhi cultures, starting from child naming, by ensuring that their children bear original Izhi names, and not allowing them to be overtaken by the foreign ones, just because of their belief and civilization.
Ezaegu also encouraged the people to be observing the cultures of new yam festival (Ojiji), feast for the departed souls with legacies (Otutara), special banquet for the kindred (Jioke), cultural carnival (Oboiphe), traditional marriage and burial rites, which he described as a genuine practice originated from their ancestors, that should not be allowed to go into extinction by all Izhi children successively.
He tasked them on security of public facilities in their various towns, stressing that Izhi people remained ever grateful over the newly awarded ring roads by the governor of the state and called for a collective effort to ensure hitch free movement of the workers while executing the project in their various communities.
Izhi Inyimegu community stakeholders including the State Commissioner for Education - Dr Sunday Nwangele, Nnodo Development Coordinator - Chijioke Nwuzor, Izhi Inyimegu Traditional Ruler - HRH Eze Linus Nwizi, the Traditional Ruler of Izhi Community in Lagos State - HRH Eze Cyprain Nwekee (Eze Izhi Gbirim), the Town Union President - Abraham Ugama, the Provost of Ebonyi School of Science and Technologies, Ngbo - Elder Stephen Nwamkpuma, the Chairman Planning Committee of the event, Edwin Nwekee, the Leader of Ebubeagu Southeast Security in Nnodo Development Centre, Ikechukwu Otozi, among others applauded Oha Izhi for embarking on such advocacy campaign, describing the sensitization as a huge investment for advancement of Izhi land and entire society.
Eze Izhi Gbirim therefore, pledged to carry out the sensitization programme to Lagos State, believing that other Izhi community leaders would extend the message to their people, to benefit from the new development in their land and as well, maximise it for wider consumption.
Donation of gifts including cows and cash by the community people with the launching of the constitution, cultural dance, displays of masquruades and refreshment were the highlights of the occasion.
