By CHARLES IWUOHA

Governor of Ebony State, Engr David Nweze Umahi, has called on the Federal Government to revisit the Justice Mamman Nasir Boundary Adjustment Panel reports of 1975 to address the incessant boundary conflicts across the country.

He made the call when he received on a courtesy call the Director General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr Tswah Bakut, at the Government House Abakaliki on Wednesday.

The Governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Kelechi Igwe, observed that the commission did not take into cognisance cultural affinities and history of the people while carrying out the exercise.

This, he said, has created intractable conflicts among some communities in the country. “If there is a way you can approach the Federal Government especially National Assembly to revisit that report and do the proper adjustment because there is no way you can just go to a people and start separating them from their kith and kin,” the Governor said.

He said apart from Ebonyi being agrarians they are core taditionalists who believe in God and respect the sanctity of lives.

He made it clear that Ebonyi is not at war with their neighbouring Cross River State, pointing out that some unscrupulous elements often create trouble for their personal gains.

The Governor stressed the need for the institute to assist Ebonyi to sustain the relative peace that is existing between Ebonyi and Cross River states, while urging them to assist victims of the conflicts with relief materials.

Earlier, Dr Bakut had said that the institute which was established since the year 2000 has been conducting strategic conflict assessments to identify areas of potential conflicts.

Dr Bakut said the institute realised there have been conflicts between Ebonyi and Cross River States, hence their visit to sensitise the communities on the need to live in peace.

He acknowledged the efforts of the Government of the two states at restoring peace in the boundary communities, and assured that as interventionists, they will assist greatly in that direction.”

“In 2018 we conducted a baseline research between Amagu Ikwo in Ebonyi State and Adadama in Cross River State and observed that both State Governments have done a lot to maintain peace and that Proper adjustment has not been carried out in the area because of reoccurring conflicts,” he said.

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