By CHARLES IWUOHA

Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives and representative of the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, Dr. Philip Agbese, has intervened in the crisis between Agila and Ngbo communities of Ado LGA of Benue State and Ohaukwu LGA of Ebonyi State.

The lawmaker interfaced with stakeholders in a meeting at the Ohaukwu local government headquarters in Ebonyi State, in a bid to bring an end, the decades of communal crisis.

Agbese said the parley was the first of its kind in the numerous efforts to bring an enduring and sustainable end to the crisis between Agila and Ngbo.

He said at this point of the perennial conflict, ordinary talks were no longer enough and that drastic measures needed to be employed to restore peace among the people.

Speaking to journalists after the peace parley, Agbese said: “Peace is not totally the absence of war or conflict in a society, but the ability to overlook the differences in the interest of growth and development.

“Today, I led the good people of Agila to a groundbreaking peace meeting with our Ngbo brothers at the headquarters of Ohaukwu Local Government Area.

“This was one of my cardinal promises during the campaign and to the glory of God, the peace which once eluded us has returned to Agila, Benue State and Ngbo, Ebonyi State.

”Gradually we shall get there by the glory of the Almighty God and what God cannot do, does not exist.

“On this note, I wish to thank our people for their support so far. We are not there yet. I need your prayers and patience more than ever. Yes, we can and soon, things will be better.”

The delegation led by Agbese to the meeting comprised top political, religious, and traditional leaders from Ado/ Okpokwu/ Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, with his colleague Hon. Eze Nwachukwu Eze, representing Ohaukwu Federal Constituency and his people in attendance.

The Deputy Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Lami Danladi, who represents Ado State Constituency was also in attendance.

News Express gathered that the decades between the two local government areas have claimed thousands of lives.

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