The leader of Effium people, Prince James Agena
By Magnus Aluma, Abakaliki
The Effium people in the community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, have expressed displeasure with the planned demarcation of land and creation of autonomous communities, by the state governor, Francis Nwifuru, to end the lingering crisis in the area.
The President General of Effium Town Union, James Agena gave the indication at a Press Conference in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital. He said the proposed renaming of parts of the community with non-native names and creation of autonomous communities for the Ezza people, by the state government, undermines the authority of Effium traditional rulers, and amounts to disrespect to the people’s cultural identity.
His words:”we welcome you all to this important press conference, convened on behalf of the Effium people under the aegis of the Effium Town Union. This gathering has become necessary in the light of recent pronouncements and actions by the government of Ebonyi State regarding the Effium crisis, which threatens the peace, unity, and heritage of our community.”
He further said, “we the Effium people wish to categorically state our vehement opposition to the proposals announced by the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, regarding the demarcation of Effium land to cede a portion to the Ezza people. These proposals, which also include the creation of two autonomous communities for the Ezza people, the renaming of the area to be ceded with a non-native name, and the reorganization and renaming of electoral wards, are provocative and counterproductive to the ongoing peace efforts in our community.”
NewsBits reports that Governor Nwifuru recently assented to a bill from the state House of Assembly, legalising boundary demarcation and creation of autonomous communities in the troubled Effium Community, as one of the measures to end the lingering communal feud in the area.
But Agena further listed some of the grievances of his people to include: forceful Seizure of their land, neglect and desecration of their Traditional Institutions, disruption of Political Structures in the community, and rewarding Crisis and Violence.
He said, “Effium land is the ancestral heritage of the Effium people. The Ezza people historically came to Effium as settlers, and their presence in our community does not grant them co-ownership of our land. The proposed demarcation and ceding of our land to the Ezza people amount to a forceful seizure of our ancestral land, which we will never accept. This action is unjust and undermines the sanctity of our heritage,” he insisted.
Continuing, he said, “Ezza people have been at the centre of the crisis in Effium, which has resulted in the loss of countless lives and properties worth billions of naira. By proposing to allocate land to them and creating autonomous communities for them, the government is inadvertently rewarding them for orchestrating this crisis. This sets a dangerous precedent, as it signals that violence and aggression can be used to achieve political and territorial gains.”
The Town Union President condensed the Governor Nwifuru’s proposals, adding that it will amount to neglect and desecration the people’s these traditional institutions.
“Renaming parts of our land with non-native names and creating autonomous communities for the Ezza people undermines the authority of our traditional rulers and disrespects our cultural identity. It is counterproductive to our ongoing Peace Efforts. The Governor’s proposals are counterintuitive to the ongoing peace efforts in Effium. They lack fairness, equity, and justice, which are essential ingredients for lasting peace. Rather than fostering reconciliation and harmony, these actions will create chaos, confusion, and exacerbate the crisis, leading to further instability and unrest,” Agena emphasised.
Agena urged the state government to stay action on the proposals, contending that the developments would further deepen the crisis in the area. “We appeal to the Governor to halt the Proposed Actions. We urge him to immediately halt the proposed demarcation of Effium land, the creation of autonomous communities for the Ezza people, and the reorganization and renaming of electoral wards,” he said.
“The proposed actions by the Ebonyi State Government threaten to destabilize our community further and must be addressed with urgency,’ he added.
