C'River/Ebonyi Boundary: Group Petitions ALGON, National Assembly, To Rejig Peace Effort

By Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki

The National President, Cross River and Ebonyi Youths Peace Development Movement, Barr. Pascal Nwenyi have appealed to the leadership of Association of Local Government of Nigeria,ALGON led by Engr. Bello Lawal to call on Council chairmen within border communities in the country to step up modalities to entrench peace.

The National President , Barr. Nwenyi made the appeal when Cross River/Ebonyi Youths Peace Development Movement in collaboration with Institute for Peace, And Conflicts Resolution,IPCR, held their 1st maiden peace Advocacy/Sensitization Meeting with the IDPs of Mfuma and their Ukele Brothers at Comprehensive Secondary School Mfuma,South Ukele,Yala Local Government Area of Cross River state,where he called on national assembly members representing the affected people of the two sister states of Cross River and Ebonyi to intervene in ensuring that all the Council chairmen fully support the peace efforts in their border communities.

He lamented the absence of the Yala Local Government Area chairman in the meeting stating the importance of relocating the IDPs' to their ancestral home and urged the chairmen who share border in the two sister states to step up activities of their administration to ensure that the people coexist as it's the sole responsibility of National Boundary Commission to delineate land of two states.

The chairman of Izzi Local Government Area,Barr. Steven Nwankpa represented in the meeting by the Coordinator of Igbeagu Development Center, Mr Obinna Nwedu commended the group for their efforts in reuniting the people of Ipfeigwe autonomous community and their Ukele counterpart and urged them to continue to embrace peace for the interest of their common good. Also, the traditional ruler of Ipheigwe Autonomous Community,His Royal Highness, Eze Clement Eze appreciated the two states Governors for their support to ensure that permanent peace is enthroned in the border communities urging federal government to fasten efforts in delineation of the land.

"We are pleased with the sincere efforts of the Cross River and Ebonyi Youths Peace Development Movement who have relentlessly been championing peace in all the border communities of our states. "The elders and traditional rulers are happy with what we have witnessed since the youth's intervention and we will not renegade knowing that we inter marry, have started trading together, attend social events and even go to same churches, all we are appealing is that National Boundary Commission should step up to delineate the boundary of two states so that no property or blood will ever be shed among us." Eze appealed.

Other members who spoke during the event including, the vice president , Mr lucky Okpeche , Secretary of the group, Mr Henry Ekpo, and Mr Ovunna Declan urged the people to continue living in peace as to attract government presence in their communities.