Metro
Ezza-Effium crisis: Ebonyians in Diaspora urges Nwifuru to make public Bishop Okoro-led Committee’s report
…..condemns continuous breach of ceasefire agreement by state actors
Ebonyians in Diaspora Organization, EIDO, has urged governor Francis Nwifuru’s led administration to make public the Bishop Okoro-led Committee’s report.
They however, condemned in totality the continuous breach of the ceasefire agreement in Ezza-Effium by relevant state actors, adding that the breaches is worrisome and uncalled for.
The organization made this known through an Open Letter to the Ebonyi State Government, signed by its President, vice-President and secretary general; Daniel Nwibo, Mrs Anoke Chinonso Eze, and Martins Itumo and issued to newsmen in Abakaliki capital of Ebonyi State.
The letter reads in part: “We sincerely appreciates governor Francis Nwifuru for his performance in office in line with the people’s charter of needs and most especially for his humanitarian intervention programmes.
“We also recognizes, and appreciates the setting up of the Retired Bishop Michael Okoro Peace Committee by Governor Francis Nwifuru to look into the remote and immediate causes of the Effium crisis and make recommendations on how to resolve them and restore lasting peace to the community.
“We followed developments as regards the three-year old war in Effium community of Ohaukwu LGA in Ebonyi State, especially the management of the challenges faced by the peace committee which included the recalcitrant breaches of ceasefire agreements by parties to the crisis.
“We had observed in our previous communications that the continuous toleration of these ceasefire breaches by relevant state actors were worrisome, and could precipitate to unwanted consequences.
“we pray the Ebonyi State Government to make public the Bishop Okoro-led Committee’s report and other reports by similar committees set up by past governments.
“In addition, we acknowledge that the State government has set up the report’s white paper implementation team led by the Attorney General of the State, Ben Odoh. We note, with disquiet and disgust, how a white paper derived from an unseen report could be implemented by the government.
“EIDO believes that the Bishop Okoro committee was set up for the good of Ebonyi People and funded with Ebonyi People’s taxes. How come the resolutions of the committee have not been made public for the real funders, the Ebonyi People, to have access to the reward of their labour (the report) before any implementation is considered? This is as concerning and obtuse, as it is confusing.
“Because of the above mentioned unavailability of the report for public consumption, there are speculations that part of the implementation plan is to relocate the Ezza Effium People from their original dwelling places without any just cause.
“EIDO is rather perplexed at the constitutionality of this plan as this directly contravene section 41 & 42 of the 1999 CFRN as amended, which outlines the fundamental rights of citizens to live & acquire properties in any part of Nigeria. If implemented, this could amount to the suspension of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Ebonyi State” the organization stressed.