Carnage in Effium communal clash, politically motivated, AESID claims

Tunde Opalana, Abuja

The Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in the Diaspora (AESID) has said that the despicable attacks that has reportedly claimed about 40 lives in a fight that broke out between the natives of Effium and Effium indigenes of Ezza extraction in Ohaukwu Local Government area of Ebonyi State is politically motivated.

Properties worth several millions of naira were said to have been lost to this unfortunate incident while many people were severely injured and settlers relocated out of the area.

Contrary to a widely held belief that the carnage was at the instance of crisis between two factions of transport unions, the association claimed that the wanton destruction of lives and properties was caused by differences over delineation of electoral wards.

Ambassador Paschal Oluchkwu, who is AESID President, World-wide, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.

Olouchukwu said “our preliminary findings have shown that contrary to the initial claims of the crisis being caused by a tussle over the leadership and control of Effium motor-park, the facts on ground actually prove that it was due to the attempt to unlawfully annex some federal electoral wards which originally belong to Ezza-Effium people of Ezza extraction to wards of Effium indigenes of Korri extraction in the ongoing Enumeration Area Demarcation exercise by the National Population Commission, (NPC).

The AESID said further probe into the said action showed that the NPC officials were ostensibly misguided by agents of Ohaukwu Council Chairman, Barr. Clement Odah, and other stakeholders of Effium indigenes of Korri extraction.

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“Documented evidences made available to AESID showed that the peculiarities of Effium community where Effium people of Ezza Ezekuna extraction or Ezza-Effium people constituted about 80% of the entire population of the community warranted the demarcation of the five electoral wards in the community with family/kindred labels or names instead of the normal physical or geographical boundaries by the Government of old Anambra State through her Edict No. 4 of 1990.

“This platform is also aware of the complaints raised by Ezza stakeholders in its petition to the NPC against the actions of its EAD officials who were unfortunately misguided by the Local Government boss, Barr. Odah, his agents and co-conspirators wherein they had cautioned that the acts of unlawfully annexing parts of the wards of Effium indigenes of Ezza-Ezekuna extraction including the homes of some notable politicians, renowned academics and other prominent cum other natives of Ezza-Effium people’s homes to Effium people of Korri extraction was an open invitation to chaos.

“Yet, to the best of our knowledge, the said Odah and his agents including the government hadn’t acted fast to correct these unconscionable and inflammable annexations.

Even the solemn prayers by the said Ezza stakeholders for a prompt and proper reversal of all parts of the wards of Effium indigenes of Ezza-Ezekuna extraction otherwise known as Ezza-Effium people unlawfully annexed to Effium indigenous people’s wards were paid deaf ears to by the powers that be.

We condemn this politically-motivated action meant not only to stir needless dusts but also to decimate the strengths of the most populous and peace-loving Ezza clan who has lived in peace with all its neighbours in the state be there in Ishiagu, Ukawu and Abaomege in Ebonyi South; Ezzaegu, Ogboji or Ezzillo communities in Ishielu LGA in the Central or in Effium in the north not until the last and present political dispensations”, Olouchukwu said.

The AESID commended the new State’s Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba for the prompt action of arresting all those who are suspected to have had a hand in the Effium carnage, however, requested that the police should get to the root of this crisis by thoroughly investigating the Council Chairman, Barr. Odah and his co-travellers in lieu of the current facts that are already in public domain.

The association cautioned the state governor, David Umahi not to shield Barr. Odah from police investigation since the state government has failed to probe allegations of humiliating stakeholders against the council chairman.