By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
Ngboejiogu people in Ohaukwu council area of Ebonyi State have banned sales of charms in their market squares.
The Deputy Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Chinedu Onah disclosed this yesterday while interacting with newsmen at Abakaliki. Onah representing Ohaukwu South State Constituency was reacting to his motion for the ban of masquerades at public places in Ohaukwu local government area of the state.
According to Onah, the decision for the evacuation of the charms from the popular Okwor Ngbo Market square was recently taken by Ngbejiogu Leaders Council, was in line with the ban of masquerades at public places.
The lawmaker said the leaders of community were not comfortable with how people began to selling charms in public places especially in Okwor Ngbo market.
He explained: "The people selling charms have shops, but they were asked to evacuate them from the market yesterday. They have started evacuation of the charms from the market.
"They hire about three buses, but none of the drivers agreed to carry the charms. They resorted hiring tricycles, paying them heavily to carry the charms out from the market, because we can't tolerate selling charms in our market squares."
On the issue of the masquerading ban, Onah said, the sudden deviation from the original culture and tradition of Ngboejiogu people to criminality was not peculiar to his constituency.
He commended his people who joined him to take a bold step to ban masquerading at public places, noting that about six masquerades had been arrested and handed over to police for disobeying the directive.
"Masquerading to an extent is for an entertainment. Like I said, when I was moving the motion in the House, to ban masquerading at public places such as market, a masquerade that is friendly will not be forcing people and telling them to give it money. But when it harasses people, it's difficult for anybody to come around such masquerade.
"Traditionally, women have nothing to do with masquerade in my place. So, if masquerade decides to go where women are selling a small produce from the farm, it simply means it wants crisis.
"What really informed the idea of moving the motion was as a result of the general meeting conveyed by the Ngbejiogu leaders Council after a masquerade and some supporters beat up a Methodist priest, called Reverend Israel Oyibe from Ekwashi.
"The masquerade beat him and not only that but tore his clothes and damaged his motorcycle. Currently, the man is at Abakaliki looking for help, a Reverend Minister of that matter.
"As that one was not enough, a Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Christian Ohu, from Afikpo residing in Ngbo, was flugged by this masquerade. The masquerade also flugged the priest's cook.
"When you go to the market, you see a lot of incidence, where women are complaining of the masquerade's beatings. When they come to the market, you can't sell. It's because the masquerade can't allow them to sell.
"In my presence, a man was coming from Okposhi Ehuku road, that leads to Okwor Ngbo, I was coming from my village, and I met the man and I saw a masquerade.
"When the man asked what was the problem? The masquerade demanded for money. The man offered 200 Naira. The masquerade said 200 Naira is nothing in considering the situation of economy in the country now.
"That the man should pay 1,000 Naira to it. When the said since he don't have 1,000 to go back and ply another road, the masquerade refused.
"The masquerade said to choose between the two canes it was holding and started beating the man. I rescued the man and treated him before I allowed him to go. A situation where these things are happening, I can't keep quiet."
