Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Many indigenes of Agila in Ado Local Government (LGA) of Benue State at the weekend crossed over to Ngbo, in Ohaukwu Local government Area of Ebonyi State to participate in the empowerment programme of Rep. Nwachukwu Eze, member Representing Ebonyi/Ohaukwu federal constituency.
The fratricidal conflict between Agila and Ngbo has claimed many lives and led to destruction property worth millions of naira.
The two ends have been engaged in protracted and fierce boundary dispute which has claimed many lives and appeared intractable as successive governments from both states failed to broker piece.
But the government of Governor Francis Nwifuru last year working with Nwachukwu and other stakeholders from both communities initiated permanent peace moves to end the conflict.
The presence of the people of Agila at Nwachukwu’s empowerment programme and stewardship account was historic as it marked the first time in a long while that Agila people will attend an event in Ngbo.
Nwachukwu told the audience which include Gov. Francis Nwifuru and top government officials that the peace moves were in line with the governor’s policy on security.
He said: “The peace desire made me move the first motion on the floor of the 10th House of Representatives on permanent truce to the conflict.
“We subsequently followed the House resolution with both communities’ critical stakeholders and implemented the peace process with inter-community visits.
“We are seeing evidence of this permanent peace with the presence of the traditional ruler of Agila, his cabinet members and prominent stakeholders at this occasion,” he said.
He said that indigenes of both communities have re-commenced economic activities and inter-marriage which was stopped by the conflict.
“We shall presently empower widows from both communities who lost their husbands in the conflict with 25 sets of frying utensils.
“We are also empowering our constituents with two cars, 25 sewing machines, 25 grinding machines, four units of mini tractors, five units of dormer machines, 1000 bags of fertilisers, 4, 000 improved varieties of palm trees.
“We also attracted three kilometres asphalted section of Umuimama/Egedegede road worth N1 billion and which the governor has inaugurated,” he said.
Eze noted that he had sponsored bills which include: a Bill for an Act to establish the Federal University of Environmental Sciences in Ngbo, Bill to repeal and re-enact River Basins Development Authorities Act Cap 2004, among others.
Nwifuru commended Eze for his efforts to improve the lives of his constituents through the attraction of democracy dividends.
“Politicians have a huge challenge of providing the needs of the people as the people should only think of leaders who have their interests at heart.
“Ebonyi is blessed with good leaders and stakeholders as the people should criticise leaders constructively and not always looking for the shortcomings,” he said.
Chief Jones Ojeh, a community leader in Agila in an interview noted that rapid socio-economic development had returned to the area since the restoration of peace.
“We are here in our numbers to prove to Ebonyi leaders that Agila remains brothers, sisters and friends of Ngbo people and entire citizens of the state,” he said.
Mrs Oluchi Akpu, one of the beneficiaries thanked the lawmaker for the gesture and pledged to judiciously utilise the tool she received.
