Obinna Uchendu
Abakaliki
Traditional Rulers, the clergy and other stakeholders of Old Afikpo Division in Ebonyi State yesterday expressed their believe in the administration of President Mohammedu Buhari and the Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi to bring a permanent solution to the security challenges facing the country.
In a Communiqué issued by the people of the Division comprising Afikpo North and Afikpo South Local government areas after a town hall meeting with the State Governor at the Christian Ecumenical Center Abakaliki condemned the recent attacks of police stations and check points in the state.
The Communiqué which was signed by all the stakeholders from the Division and read by the Chairman of Ebonyi Universal Basic Education Board, High Chief Hyacinth Ikpo condemned the attack on a military check point at Amasiri junction in Afikpo North Local Government Area which led to the death of some military officers and civilian.
According to the Communiqué; “During the Town hall meeting, far-reaching issues were deliberated upon, including the State of the Nation, the prevalent security challenges being witnessed in the State and the general state of affairs in Ebonyi State in general and Afikpo North and Afikpo South Local Government Areas in particular”.
“On the strength of a comprehensive interface between the Governor and the leaders and stakeholders of Afikpo North and Afikpo South Local Government Areas; we hereby express our faith in the government of Chief David Umahi and that of President Muhammadu Buhari”,
“We align ourselves with the remedial measures put in place by them and believe in their abilities to bring permanent solution to the incessant security challenges in Afikpo North and Afikpo South Local Government Areas, in Ebonyi State and in Nigeria as a whole”.
“That we unequivocally condemn in strongest terms, the recent attack on some police stations and check points in Ebonyi State (Including the one that happened at the check point at Timber Shade Junction, Afikpo) by unknown gunmen with the resultant effect of death of security personnel and civilians”.
“In the same vein, we condemn without reservations, all forms of animosity, hostility and inter communal clashes and wars in some parts of Ebonyi State and between any part of Ebonyi State and people of any other part of Nigeria”.
“That we regret the loss of lives across Ebonyi State through attacks by known and unknown gunmen and which has breached the tranquility, shattered the solidarity and threatened the age-long peace with which Ebonyi State is known for and at the same time, we sympathise with those who have been negatively affected by these security challenges in one way or the other”.
“We condemn in totality all forms of media attack on the person and office of the Governor by disgruntled hirelings and mercenaries whose stock in trade is to sow seeds of discord in the minds of members of the public and hoodwink them into reacting negatively to the government of the state”.
The stakeholders also expressed the believe in upholding the Fundamental Human Rights of all citizens as enshrined in the Constitution with emphasis on freedom of religion, right to freedom of movement including freedom of settlement by any Nigerian in any part of Ebonyi State”.
“We also believe that the same freedom should also provide for the right of movement and religion of any Ebonyi indigenes in any part of Nigeria, in the spirit of harmony, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence”.
The Stakeholders also urged the people of the Division to desist from disseminating and patronising hate speech, distrust, intolerance and clannishness adding that for Nigeria to remain one, the people must conquer mistrust, suspicion and hatred with love.
“We encourage our people to resist the urge to be lured into causing unrest, unleashing turmoil and setting Ebonyi State ablaze by the prittle-prattle of a stranger in a strange land, by the casuistry of historical revisionists, idle demagogues and peddlers of myth and cargo- cult mentality”. Ends.
