The Chairman of Yala Local Government Area in Cross River State, Hol, Elder, Dr, Fred Okem and his Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State counterpart, Barrister Stephen Nwakpa on Thursday pledged to ensure that peace would be maintained among border communities in their local government areas.
In a peace meeting held in Okpoma, the Yala Council headquarters, the two Chairmen supported by youth leaders, traditional rulers stakeholders and security agencies made a solemn pledge to to stop any outbreak of hostilities among their communities henceforth.
Speaking first, host of the meeting ,Dr Okem ,stressed on the importance of the meeting stating that he was elated to receive and host the Chairman of Izzi and his delegation in his office and assured that the meeting would be fruitful and the outcome will enthrone peace among border communities of the two states in Yala and Izzi Local Government Areas.
” I find it joyful and highly momentous to host the Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area in my office. The first day I met with him in Abakaliki, it was a wonderful moment because I saw peace in him and we scheduled to meet regularly to resolve issues concerning the conflicts among residents of border communities in the two local government areas and his presence here today buttresses the fact that he is a man of peace and peace we shall achieve”.
He said the meeting would harmonise all differences between the two sister local government areas to allow for cordial co-existence between the neighbouring states of Cross River and Ebonyi.
“We shall not fail in the task of restoring lasting peace because our people watch our body language and whatever we do will resonate in the communities and since we as chairmen want peace they too have to follow suit and peace will be maintained forever”.
Barrister Nwakpa, the Izzi Chairman said the outbreak of hostilities between the border communities of Yala and Izzi in 2005 and 2018 led to unnecessary shedding of blood and destruction of property which need not recur.
“Today ,God has found it worthy for us to meet and harmonise whatever issues exist between us and during these three years that we would be in office, this blocks of peace we have laid would grow and enthrone lasting peace among our people and there would be no more shedding of blood between our sister people”.
He emphasised that youths on both sides should take caution as nothing will push the two local government areas to shed blood again.
“It is against God and humanity for a human being to shoot and butcher someone, talk less of a person with whom he has shared commonality
“I am indeed overwhelmed by the hospitality shown me here and the calibre of men and women in this meeting which should be the spirit that should lead ,our forthwith”.
The youth leader of Yala ,Mr Isaac Okpokpo said many feuding communities have returned to live peacefully and there is a resolve that nothing would cause conflict that would lead to the use of arm against one another again.
Barrister Pascal Ezenwenyi, Chairman of Cross River, Ebonyi Peace Movement who spoke for the Ebonyi youths assured that nothing will lead to any shootout among the communities again. Peace he said, is key to development and called on government to initiate projects and programmes that would keep the youths from both sides engaged and resourceful.
