Concern Ebonyi Man Writes Senator Nwebonyi, Commends Move To Attract Agricultural Institute

SPECIAL APPEAL TO MY SENATOR AND DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF 10th NIGERIAN SENATE.

First, let me express my honest appreciation to you, my dear brother and the distinguished senator, representing Ebonyi north senatorial district in the 10th Senate, Sen. Barr. Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, on your superlative performance at the red chamber. I have taken time to go through your two years stewardship accountability document published on your official facebook account last month, and I'm very much impressed.

One of your bills that strikes me most sir, is the bill to establish federal University of Agriculture in Ebonyi state, this is very thoughtful and apt too. I have maintained that Ebonyi state is not given its rightful place in the committee of states in Nigeria when it comes to siting of national Agricultural institutions, in spite of our modest contribution to the food security in the country. For, instance, I don't understand why all Agricultural research institutes including those that have national mandates on root and tuber crops, grain crops such rice don't have even outstation in Ebonyi state in recognition of our Agricultural productivity. Imagine, a place that host the largest rice mills industry in West Africa and by far the largest producer of the same product in the region, yet the institute that has the national mandate to research on this important food commodity has no presence in the place it's an aberration. This is one of thing your bill stands to correct if it pulled through, and be rest assured that we, your constituents, especially those of us who have the privilege information and experience in the sector are ready to support you in anywhere you might need our assistance to ensure that it pull through. However, having stated the above, I wish to say that I had expected a strong push from you sir, for boundary adjustment during this constitutional amendments to reallocate our people at Ndu-ori Nwobashi and Atiluga in Ado local government of Benue State back to Ebonyi state. Since you're from that boundary axis, and has the first hand information on the level of neglect and abandonment those our people are experiencing including the brutal mascare of 2020 in which you, and His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi state as the then speaker of Ebonyi state house Assembly showed up a strong statemanship for Izhi nation in our efforts to safe the lives of injured victims and cushion the effects on the displaced persons. On his part, His Excellency the Executive Governor of Ebonyi state has demonstrated leadership and appreciation of suffering of those our people in Benue by initiating the construction of access road leading to that area and connecting bridge which is right inside the Benue State just because of them. In one of my official engagements as an Agricultural research scientist, I visited the area, last year and I experienced the impassable nature of their major roads and separation between Ndu-ori Nwobashi Community and Atiluga community by the great Atiluga river which makes it impossible for Atiluga people to access the Ndi-ori Nwobashi market, one of the largest Agric produce markets in Nigeria once it starts raining, except with local boat, with its attended risks on their lives and Agricultural produce, which is their only source of livelihood. In the terms yarm, Ndi-ori Nwobashi market is only second to Zakibiam yam market in the West Africa, yet these people are so much neglected. The Izhi people in Ado local government of Benue State are living on the contiguous land of Izhi nation, they're not settlers nor liability, they are great access to Ebonyi state, Southern Nigeria and the entire nation, in terms of food security. Yet my interactions with them during my trip to the area revealed an intentional governmental neglect and constant threat of annihilation by their supposed neighbours, and marauding herdsmen killers for years without any protectionist intervention, or social amenities sited there by the government, except for the recent intervention of Ebonyi state government, many thanks to His Excellency the Executive Governor of Ebonyi state: Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for his show of statemanship, love and leadership in this direction. During my trip there, I traveled more than two communities, but couldn't sight any primary school, talk less about secondary school, nor any source of clean drinking water. At a point, I started asking myself if these people are really still under Nigeria government, I couldn't just phantom why there is such grave abandonment by all authorities concerned. Hence, I wish to use this medium to appeal to you sir, our capacity Senator and deputy chief Whip of the 10th Senate to use your good and influential office to call for boundary adjustment that will ensure the reallocation of these our people to Ebonyi state where they will be taken care of as citizens, especially now that the national assembly is embarking on constitutional amendments which has provided a very good opportunity for it to be done easily, as a complimentary action to what His Excellency the Executive Governor of Ebonyi state is doing to safe these people from the repeat of 2020 experience, in which they were attacked, gruesomely murdered in the hew hours of the day of the ugly incident, and many families wiped out and there was no any observable intervention, not even a press release from their supposed State of origin's government. But, you, the most distinguished and our dear brother, the current Executive Governor of Ebonyi state showed up sternly leadership, and an example of leading from the front, as both of you risked your lives even as public figures then, and drove to through the impassable roads to the area and pulled the injured victims in the pools of their blood with your bare hands to federal teaching hospital Abakaliki for medical attention, in an uncommon show of solidarity and support to brothers in the need. Little wonder, that might part of the reasons why the God Almighty who is the rewarder of every action of man, and our ancestors in Izhi nation, enthroned both of you to lead not just Izhi nation but the entire Ebonyi state, as a Governor and Deputy Chief Whip of the 10th Nigerian Senate. So, the mission is not yet completed sir, initiating the process of the boundary adjustment to reallocate these our people to their rightful state of origin where they'll be protected and cared for like normal citizens through constitution amendment process using your highly influential office at the National Assembly will be their redemptive action which if pulled through, will add to your legislative achievements, and carve a niche for you in the annals of history in Izhi nation in particular, Ebonyi north senatorial district representation and Ebonyi state at large. I also want to call on Izhi Nnodo youths forum and OhaIzhi to rise up to the challenge, while appreciating our dear son for his superlative legislative performance at the uper chamber of the national assembly, impress on him to utilise this golden opportunity to at least open a national conversation on the condition and experience of our people at Ado local government in Benue State, they're rightful citizens like any other Nigerian. @Dr Jeremiah S. Nwogha Ph.D is a Researcher at National Root Crops Research Institute.