The people of Afikpo and Edda Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State have reaffirmed their commitment to lasting peace and unity, following a joint peace meeting held on Tuesday at the Old Government House, Abakaliki.
The meeting, convened at the instance of the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace, brought together leaders and stakeholders from both local government areas to strengthen brotherly relations and end hostilities between the neighboring communities.
Speaking after the meeting, the Chairman of Afikpo Local Government Area, NWACHI Timothy A.U emphasized that the entire discussions revolved around sustaining peace and harmony between the two areas.
“It was peace in the morning, peace in the afternoon, and peace in the evening,” Nwachi said. “Everything we talked about centered on peace on how we can live harmoniously with one another.
Afikpo and Edda are brothers, and there shouldn’t be anything that will cause disharmony between us.”
He noted that both areas share a long-standing bond, traGoing back to when they were part of one administrative unit.
“Formerly, we were all Afikpo North, but just for administrative convenience, we now have Edda as a local government. We are not different from one another,” he explained.
According to him, traditional rulers from both councils have been mandated to return to their communities and sensitize their subjects on the resolutions reached, particularly the need for mutual trust and safety along border routes.
“No Edda man should entertain fear in passing through Amasiri, and no Amasiri man should fear passing through Oso or going to Okigwe. We drummed it very well into the ears of our youths to maintain law and order along the highways,” he said.
He further commended Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for his unwavering commitment to peace across the state, urging residents to emulate and “domesticate” the governor’s peace initiatives at the grassroots.
Also speaking, former council chairman and first female chairman of Afikpo North, Hon. Oby Okenyim, pledged the support of women in sustaining the peace efforts.
“The women will uphold the decision of the state government to restore peace in our sister communities,” Okenyim stated. “Since the state governor, Francis Nwifuru, is a man of peace, the warring communities have no other option than to embrace peace and attract development to their people.”
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment from both sides to maintain peaceful coexistence and foster unity for progress and development.
