BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
The leadership of Oha Izhi Nnodo Ekumaenyi in Ebonyi State has restated its commitment towards championing peace, unity and progress in Izhi land, calling the stakeholders of the clan to be up and doing in taking care of the welfare of the citizens.
The President General of Oha Izhi Nnodo, HRH Eze S.N Oketa made this call on Saturday at Vocational Secondary School, Ndiogbu Village in Ndieze Autonomous Community in Izhi Local Government Area of the state, during their sensitization and advocacy visit to the people.
Eze Oketa said that Oha Izhi is not a political organization but remained the apex socio-cultural body, being committed to ensure that the people of the land are not maltreated by any means.
He urged the community people to continue to live peaceful and united, saying the organization would be steadfast in addressing their needs as far as they follow the due process.
"We have no two Izhi people, we remain one indivisible people. Your concerns are our concerns and all Izhi children are expected to be working towards building our people, enhancing human resources and not formenting troubles in Izhi land
"We encourage our people to keep be peace loving people and soon, all Izhi stakeholders especially those seeking one political position or the other will be called to show their beneficiaries - those they have empowered, those they gave jobs or rendered free assistance.
"Before the election, it will be operation show the lists of the people you empowered or people you gave jobs without collecting any Kobo from them," Eze Oketa said.
He advised the people to always be respecters of the government in power, by not engaging themselves in any unlawful act, saying that the organization is determined to ensure the security of the ring road workers and their people are not tampered with.
He warned the community people against sales and consumption of the dangerous trending methamphetamine called Mkpuru-Miri in Izhi dialect.
While expressing optimism that Izhi child would become the next governor of Ebonyi State, Oketa prayed God to enthrone the Governor of the State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi to the presidency come 2023 elections.
He said that the constitution of the body would be better appreciated, if the people start observing its provisions and described it as a compendium of ideas for harmonious living and societal advancement.
Giving overview of the constitution, the Secretary General of Oha Izhi Nnodo, Dr. John Nkwuda, said that the organization embarked on the advocacy visit to ensure the image of the clan is promoted to the limelight, maintaining that 'there's nothing like dicotomy' in their land, as heralded by some selfish politicians in the state.
He charged the people to broaden their love among themselves, by ensuring that, none of them lay hand in whatever would pull any Izhi child down even at the cost of the political games as the electioneering year draws around the corner.
Lending his voice, the Vice President of the organization, Chief Boniface Ezaegu advised the people not to allow Izhi culture and traditions to go into extinction.
He said the body is committed in promoting the genuine cultural practices of the clan, especially those that are not detrimental to life but engander unity among the people.
On the ongoing continuous voter registration, the Publicity Secretary of Oha Izhi Nnodo, Apostle Benjamin Obaji urged all Izhi children now 18years and above not to under play with the exercise, as according to him, it will contribute lots in enthroning their preferable candidates into power on the election day.
He tasked the community on the security of the ring road workers, urging their leaders to work together for the protection of lives and property within their areas.
Also, the Assistant Secretary of the body, Prince Andrew Ekpe Nwiga, Chief Sunny B. Akpagu - the Director of Protocol, amongst other speakers sensitized on peaceful co-existence in the land.
The stakeholders of the community including the member representing Izzi East State Constituency - Chief Anthony Onyibe Nwegede, the Coordinator of Izzi Development Centre - Mrs Beatrice Eze, the Community Prime Minister - Chief Silas Nkwuda, the acting Chairman Ndieze Development Union - Chief Emmanuel Edeh, among others applauded the advocacy visit by Oha Izhi, urging the officials not to be relented as they assured them of their continuous support.
