By Roland Ike, Abakaliki
The Amuda Idzem General Assembly has commended Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi state for his uncommon courage and commitment towards ensuring the return of permanent peace in Effium Autonomous Community of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.
The group in a statement signed by its President General, Comrade Inaah and Secretary General Hon. Samuel Udeh, on behalf of the Amuda Idzem community of Ohaukwu LGA, also hailed efforts of the peace committee led by the Emeritus Bishop of Abakaliki Catholic Diocese, Bishop Michael Okoro, set up by the government to end the crisis.
The group recalled that the communal crisis between the people of Effium and Ezza-Effium in Effium autonomous community broke out since January 2021 with the administration Former Governor David Nweze Umahi trying its best to quell it l.
“The crisis was eventually inherited by the present administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru and we
emphasise that the peace committee did an excellent job.
“It is understandable that the people of Ezza-Effium received the recommendations of the committee with mixed feelings as contained in their press release of 23rd March, 2024”
The group in the statement said it wants to correct the impression centered on the Amuda (Idzem) people, a Korring speaking ethnic group, having autonomous community in Ezza North Local Government Area.
“The Amuda (Idzem) people did not fight or shed the blood of innocent Ebonyians to get autonomy in Ezza North Local Government.
“The Amuda (Idzem) people like other Korring speaking ethnic group in Ebonyi state were the first aboriginal settlers of the present day Abakaliki including Ezza North Local Government Area.
“The Ezza North Local Government Area in particular was the first place the Amuda (Idzem) people settled before migrating to other places such as Effium in Ohaukwu and Ezilo in Ishielu Local Government Areas respectively,”
The statement remarked that as far as 14th century, Amuda (Idzem) people had organised societies with their first known leader as Izekwe Ibo and his wife Ogba Izekwe.
” Izekwe Ibo is the equivalent of Ezekuna of Ezza, as the the first official Traditional Ruler of Amuda (Idzem) community in Ezza North is HRH Onwe Elechi recognised by the defunct East Central State Military Administrator John Atom Kpera.
“This was under the Unified Local Government Reforms of 1976 as the Amuda (Idzem) people in Ezza North had other community leaders such as Edzem Ekeke and his contemporaries such as Olung Okolo, Uraku and Ozomokwe.
“The fact that it was the Korring speaking people of Ebonyi state, Amuda inclusive that first settled in the present day Abakaliki can be attested by consulting A.E Cook (1993) journal titled “Intelligence Report on Ntezi and Okpoto clans, Abakaliki Division of Ogoja Providence National Archives File No. EP 12133 (pg 25 26{9 10}).
“The report states that before the advent of the Ezzas the sons of Orri (Orring) each head of a clan comprising at that time three (3) or more families, lived and farmed without interruption.
“They were scattered over a territory some 20 miles wide and 25 miles long and at that period there was none to dispute with the ownership of land which, so far as they were aware was limitless.”
The group in the statement advised its Ezza neighbours to focus on sorting out their issue with their landlords (Effium Natives) and leave Amuda (Idzem) people alone.
“Amuda (Idzem) people are peace loving and wish not to be dragged into the Effium/Ezza-Effium crisis.
“We urge Governor Nwifuru to back the Implementation Committee as doing otherwise will be counter-productive.”
It will be recalled that the Ezza-Effium stakeholders rejected some provisions of the government white paper on the crisis which include issues of being granted an autonomous community and having a traditional ruler.
The crisis has led to the loss of hundreds of lives and destruction of properties worth millions of naira.
