Elders Reject New Draft Of Peace Accord On Ebonyi Communal Crisis

Leaders of Effium in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State under the umbrella of Effium Elders have described as an after-thought and aberration in the history of dispute resolution the new draft of the peace accord by the committee headed by Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu.

In a letter signed by Elder Ideyi Onwe and Pastor Dominic Ogbuoke and 14 others and addressed to the state governor, the elders said that the people of Effium stand by the Peace Accord joyfully signed by both parties without hindrance on the 14th day of March 2024 as the contents clearly emanated from the recommendations of the Bishop Okoro-led Peace Committee.

The elders called on the chairman of the new peace committee to recuse himself from the committee adding that being married to an Ezza woman, the chairman is automatically an interested party. “This is our strong fear.

“Our three sons who desperately signed the document did not do that on behalf of Effium people but for their own pecuniary interest and we have strong reservations for their actions.

“We wish to commend and enjoin you not to see the actions of our sons on the 21st day of May 2024 as an attempt to disparage your commitment to the restoration of total peace in Effium as they have mandate from us as the custodian of Effium land to act in that manner.

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“We want to state it here that we are uncomfortable with the new peace Committee recently set up by the Ebonyi State Government under the Chairmanship of Ambassador, Frank Ogbuewu,” the elders said.

The leaders expressed concern over alleged bullying and unwarranted intimidation by the committee chairman against their representatives at the peace meetings adding that they take responsibility for their representatives not endorsing the new peace accord as the contents portend danger for the continued survival and identity of Effium race.