By Emma, Abakiliki
Inside Ebonyi: Oha Izhi advocates for unity, peace — Faults poor voter’s card registration
The apex socio-cultural organization in Izhi Nnodo clan, popularly known as Oha Izhi Nnodo in Ebonyi State has advocated for total unity, peace, love and full observance of all the cultural norms and values of the people.
This was made known when the group paid familiarization and advocacy visit to Izhi Unuphu Astonomous Community in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Speaking, the president of Oha Izhi Nnodo, Ezeogo Sunday Nkwegu Oketa, said, the visit became imperative, as it was an avenue to enlightened the community on the new constitution abiding the clan.
Ezeogo Oketa observed that it is only through unity and peace that the clan would achieve the overall development of the people, adding that, Oha Izhi Nnodo as the apex socio-cultural organization in Izhi land has a constitution that regulates all activities of the people in the three council areas and beyond, and maintained that anybody who goes contrary would be sanctioned according to the constitution.
The Mornach who stated categorically that Izhi culture must be highly maintained, and added that abandonment of some cultural activities had contributed to the increase in untimely death ravaging the society.
He further advised them to always make peace their priority and avoid any act capable of jeopardizing the good image of the clan in the State
He appreciated Ebonyi State Governor Engr. David Umahi for his effort in ensuring peace between the clan and Ikwo counterpart, while praying God to lift him higher in the nearest future.
The national president however frowned upon poor and high level of negligence exhibited by town union presidents and village Heads on voter’s card registration and warned that the exercise would soon be used as a yardstick for a proof of identity in the clan.
Eze Oketa reiterated that Oha-Izhi through a committee set purposely for the verification of the exercise registration would soon embark on” house-to-house operation show your voter’s card”, hence, defaulters would made to forfeit their farmland to serve as deterrent to others.
The traditional ruler emphasized that the only way the Igbo speaking people would take it’s place in national politics is to dominate other regions in voter’s card registration which would help them to nominate next president of the country.
Also speaking, the Vice President of Oha Izhi Nnodo, Barr. Boniface Ezeagu charged every bonifade citizens of the clan to rise to their responsibilities in promoting Izhi culture by giving their children Izhi names as a true form of identity.
He also revealed that Ojiji Izhi has been recognized as one of the best festival in Africa, and pointed out the need for each community to have traditional ruler and town union president who must work together for the development of their area.
On his part, the Secretary of the organization, Dr.John Nkwuda, who was represented at the occasion by his Assistant, Mr. Andrew Ekpe, while presenting the overview of Oha Izhi constitution, hinted that matters arising in the various localities of Izhi clan must be followed according to the constitution.
He disclosed that any matter that would be reported to Oha Izhi as a supreme body must have exhausted all the supposed channels, adding that every villages and Communities must have copies of the Constitution as a working document.
The chairman of Izhi Lawyers Forum, Barr. Hycieth Uguru, stated that Izhi clan has prohibited selling of land outrightly but supports only leasing, and warned land sellers to desist from such.
On behalf of female folk, Mrs. Ikebe Charity called on women not to allow themselves to be used to perpetrate trouble.
However, she stressed the need for oneness and peaceful coexistence among members of the clan, while advising youths to avoid politics of rancour and bitterness.
In their separate speeches, the traditional ruler of Izhi Unuphu Autonomous Community,Ezeogo Nwoba Nwangbu, Izhi Unuphu Town Union President, Engr. Reuben Ofoke, Stakeholders in the area including Christopher Esha and Ikechukwu Igwe appreciated Oha Izhi for their solidarity, and described the visit as a welcome development.
They pledged to do all within their powers to move the clan forward.
The event was worthily attended by the executive members of Oha Izhi Nnodo, four village heads from the community, among others.
