By Roland Ike
The Member Representing Ebonyi/ Ohaukwu Federal Constituency of Ebonyi, Chief Eze Nwachukwu Eze has attracted hundreds of hitherto warring neighbours of Agila, Ado Local Government Area of Benue to his empowerment programme.
Rcall that a fratricidal conflict between Agila and Ngbo in Ohaukwu LGA of Ebonyi claimed hundreds of lives and led to the destruction of properties worth millions of naira.
Eze initiated permanent peace moves to end the conflict on being elected into the House in 2023 and the move materialized in both parties embracing permanent peace.
He told the audience which included Gov. Francis Nwifuru and top government officials during the event that the peace moves were in line with the governor’s peoples’ charter of needs mantra on security.
“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.”
Eze noted that indigenes of both communities had 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 among others.”
“We also attracted three kilometres asphalted section of Umuimama/ Egedegede road worth N1 billion and which the governor has inaugurated.”
The legislator disclosed that he had sponsored bills which include: a bill for an act to establish a Federal University of Environmental Sciences in Ngbo, a bill to repeal and re-enact River Basins Development Authorities Act Cap. 2004 among others.
Governor Francis Nwifuru commended Eze for his efforts to improve the lives of his constituents through the attraction of democratic 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.”
Chief Jones Ojeh, a Community Leader in Agila said in an interview that rapid socio-economic development have thrived since the return of peace among both hitherto, warring communities.
“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.”
Mrs Oluchi Akpu, one of the beneficiaries thanked the lawmaker for the gesture and pledged to judiciously utilise the empowerment tools she received.
