By CHARLES IWUOHA

A group under the aegis of Ekoli Band of Hope Union on Wednesday blamed the lawmaker representing Afikpo South West State constituency in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Nkemka Onuma, for instigating the crisis that erupted at Nguzu Edda in Afikpo South Local Government Area of the state.

Recall that the crisis started when on March 27, the people of Nguzu, in disregard to the State Government's directive to cease from all burials and other social events within the State as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID19 went ahead to hold their burial ceremonies on the directive of the lawmaker.

But in a quick reaction, the honourable member fenied violating governmen" s directives on ban on public gatherings.

The development led to the clash between the COVID-19 taskforce and some of youths of Nguzu community, resulting in the death of a youth (names withheld) in the area.

In a press statement signed by Dr. Chibuzo Kalu , Chairman, Dr. Nnachi Amos Imo , Secretary,

Mr. Kalu Uka Ude, Public Relations Officer, Mr. Orji Ugbor Nnachi, National Youth Secretary and Chief Engr. Utere Okorafor, a stakeholder, the group which sued for peace added: “We desire Nguzu/Ebiri to abstain from activities that can lead to avoidable conflicts with Ekoli as the network of relationships among the people naturally set limits to unnecessary conflicts.”

As the group wondered “why a sitting legislator tactlessly lead his people to flout an Executive directive, block a federal road, attack people of his own constituency, and confront the military in rifling showdown.” It further called on the people of Nguzu “to prevail on their multi-millionaires, political leaders and political thugs to stop terrorizing the people of Ekoli as peaceful oexistence is better than conflictual relationship.”

“To ensure total compliance to these Government directives, the Ebonyi State Government mandated the Council Chairmen and Co-ordinators of Development entres to set up task forces not only to enforce compliance to these directives but also to educate and enlighten people on preventive measures against the menacing COVID19.

“This clarification has become necessary because it has been deliberately, misleadingly published in various media that the Ekoli People after holding their burials turned round to stop the burials of Nguzu people because the Council Chairman, Hon. Dr. Eni Uduma Chima, is of Ekoli descent; that it was he who set up the COVID 19 taskforce, not mentioning that the taskforce also consists of people from Nguzu Edda.

“In conclusion, let people use their reasonableness to ask ‘Why have Nguzu and Ebiri not laid a formal complaint to the Office of the Executive Governor, the Chief Security Officer of the State?’ ‘Why have the stakeholders of Nguzu/Ebiri not reported the matter to the Office of the Commissioner of Police?' Why have they not reported to the military or to the office of the Commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace?’ The logical answer is because they know that their lies cannot sell in a formal setting.”

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