From: Emmanuel Uzor, Abakaliki
As part of efforts to restore peace in various communities across Ebonyi State, Governor David Umahi, has charged community leaders to ensure peace and order even as he assured that his administration was committed to restoring peace in Onicha Igboeze Community and all the crisis-ridden communities across the state.
The Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Internal Security, Kenneth Ugbalah while inaugurating the caretaker committee of Onicha Development Union disclosed that the state government wanted all communities to live in peace with one another.
Ugbalah who said that without peace there would not be development in any community, noted that the inauguration of the community’s Development Union was in line with the demands of the stakeholders of the community to the government after series of security meetings following outbreak of crises in the community recently.
He said that the commissioners of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters Chief Samuel Okoronkwo, and his counterpart in Peace and Conflict Resolution, Chief Francis Orji, have given their approvals to their demand, hence the inauguration.
He charged them to work in synergy with the President General of Onicha Town Union, Chief Ani Nwankwo, to ensure that there is no breach of peace and security in the community again.
He further urged them to liase with relevant stakeholders in the community to set up their own vigilante group which he said would be inaugurated within two weeks.
In his Speech, the member representing Onicha West constituency in the state House of Assembly, Valentine Okike, expressed joy over the inauguration of the caretaker committee, saying that most of the issues that had escalated in the area would have been nipped in the bud but for the absence of the development union leadership.
He said that he has confidence in the caliber of persons that made up the committee, even as he charged them to work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them.
Also speaking, Chukwuma Igwe, Coordinator of Ezeukwa Development Centre, said that the 13 -Man Caretaker Committee headed by Elder Sunday Anoke was drawn from the 13 villages that make up the Onicha Igboeze Community.
He noted that the Restoration of peace and unity in the community was the immediate responsibility of the committee and tasked them to accept the challenge with sense of responsibility and dedication.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the caretaker committee, Elder Sunday Anoke promised on behalf of his committee members to deliver on the mandate given to them.