From Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the leadership of Oha Izhi Nnodo Ekumaenyi in Ebonyi State, under the watch of HRH Eze S.N Oketa, has warned against any form of electoral violence in Izhi land.
Eze Oketa gave the warning Saturday during the Oha Izhi Sensitization and Advocacy Visit to Ndiebor Izzinyimegu Autonomous Community in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The President General of Oha Izhi Nnodo, also called for a massive registration of voter cards by every Izhi son and daughter at age of eighteen years and above, saying that the 2023 general elections require their collective effort to vote for credible candidates into different political offices.
Eze Oketa, the Onuoha III of Nkaleke Echera Autonomous Community in Ebonyi Local Government Area of the State, noted that the Constitution of Oha Izhi Nnodo condemns electoral violence, and other crises, which may lead to the destruction of lives and property and maintained that the defaulters of such menace come 2023 elections, would not be left unpunished.
Giving an overview of the Constitution of Oha Izhi Nnodo, the Secretary-General of the organisation, Chief John Nkwuda, said the body always aims at promoting and sustaining the spirit of oneness, peace and progress among the people of the Izhi nation.
He added that: "Oha Izhi Nnodo shall be the apex governing structure and its Constitution is supreme and shall have binding force on all structures, officers and members of the Oha Izhi, organisations in Izhi land and Izhi people in general."
Chief Nkwuda urged Izhi people to always be law-abiding, shun all divisible elements and actions, by making good contributions for the development of their land, especially as they approach the transition period in the governance of their respective wards, local government areas, constituencies, zone, state and the country at large.
Lending his voice, the Vice President of the organisation, Chief Boniface Ezzaegu expressed dissatisfaction with how parents allow their children to bear foreign names other than original Izhi names.
He, however, called on all Izhi people to retrace their own cultures of speaking their vernacular, dressing, festivities, respectability and spirit of accommodation, which have continued to amass them friends and prestige in the state and beyond.
The representative of the women folks in Oha Izhi Nnodo, Mrs Clementina Ogbonna, canvassed against political thuggery, intake of hard drugs, cultism, Female Genital Mutilation or cutting, among other social vices.
She urged mothers to be more committed to nursing their homes, especially the youngsters to live exemplary lives in the society, apportioned blame to such women whose children have turned to thorns pinching human society, due to their imprudence in delivering parental roles and responsibilities.
Other speakers at the event were the Assistant Secretary of Oha Izhi Nnodo - Mr Andrew Ekpe Nwiga, the Director of Protocol of the body - Chief Sunny B Ekpagu, the Publicity Secretary II - Mr Augustine Akpu and the Legal Adviser of the organisation, Barr Hyacinth Uguru.
They advocated for peace, unity and progress of the land, and expressed readiness to work together to end electoral violence and other emergencies threatening the future of the Izhi nation.
Recall that the stakeholders of the community including the Traditional Ruler of Ndiebor Izzinyimegu Autonomous Community - HRH Eze Augustine Mbam, the Chairman of Development Union - Hon Peter Obeji, the Igbuphu Ward Councillor - Hon Romanus Nwedu, Chief Ignatius Nwele, Chief Christian Nyeoga, the Youth President - Friday Nwoba, Eze's cabinet member, Chief Joseph Nwofe, and Chief Iziogo Nwopoke, commended the leadership of the Oha Izhi Nnodo, saying its visit to the community has strengthened their people's faith.
The community people through the Chairman of the Development Union, Hon Peter Obeji noted that the community is made up of twenty-three villages, known for peace and unity, where several elder statesmen including Senator Chief Chris Nwankwo, the current Executive Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area, Chief Paul James Nwogha, the Permanent Secretary Cabinet Office of Ebonyi State Government - Dr Augustine Nwuzor, the Ebonyi PDP Guber-Aspirant - Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh and many other personalities were born.
Obeji while appreciating the executive members of Oha Izhi Nnodo for their selfless effort to bring peace and unity to Izhi land, reminded them about its promise to assist the community to write Ebonyi State Government to formally recognise their traditional ruler, HRH Eze Augustine Mbam, and subsequently give him the staff of office after his coronation has not been fulfilled.
