AMARACHUKWU EGWUAGHA from Abakaliki reports that the people of the Ezza clan in Ebonyi state last Wednesday canvassed for peace, unity and love among the people of the state after the bitterness of 2023 general elections.
Harmonious living
Prior to the 2023 general elections, the peaceful atmosphere that reigned supreme among the people of Ezza community in Ebonyi state was unimpeachable. They had and pursued common interests and their communalism was seemingly infectious. Before the elections, they lived as one and everybody was his/her brother’s keeper.
Divided by politics
But politics and politicking came and the peace had given way to rancour, bickering and intense animosity among the natives.
Their partisan loyalties had turned to cold war due to conflict of interests and the people were divided along partisan lines and flag bearers of differing political parties.
The 2023 general elections had the common interest of the clan divided. For example, the majority of the Ezza people supported their son, Prof. Bernard Odoh who contested governorship position under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Very few supported the All Progressives Congress (APC), same with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The election made them see those that voted other parties as traitors and that action nearly cost the people the opportunity of securing political position in this current administration.
Their partisanship snowballed into cold war due to the conflict of interests and divisions along partisan lines and flag bearers assumed the centre stage.
However, what politics had put asunder, the new yam festival last Wednesday moved to wield together. They particularised their preaching among people of their clan with the hope that any peace achieved would transcend to other parts of the state.
Composition of Ebonyi state
Ebonyi state is made up of the old Afikpo block and Umuekumenyi block. The Ezza’s are said to be the firstborn of Umuekumenyi.
However, celebrating their new yam festival called “Okeaku”, stakeholders of the clan took turns to call for peace and unity, especially, as they emphasised that the celebration ushers in a new year with peace and unity.
The festival of reunion
The Okeaku festival was done at their ancestral home, Okpoku Ezekunna, Onueke, Ezza South Local Government Area of the state.
While the stakeholders stressed the need for unity in the clan, they urged the people to do away with the happenings of the 2023 general elections regarding the political difference among the people of the clan.
Call to support governor
The stakeholders further called for total support of Governor Francis Nwifuru and commended him for appointing many sons and daughters of the Ezza clan in various positions of authority not minding that the clan didn’t support him overwhelmingly at the just concluded general election.
In their separate speeches, the member representing Ezza North/Ishielu federal constituency, Hon. Joseph Nwobashi said, “This new yam festival is a festival that binds the Ezza clan worldwide. It is a celebration of unity and we should always remember that Ezza is one.
“The division will not help us. I standing before you people here who played party politics, all of us here also played party politics in different political parties.
“I played my own in APGA, some played in PDP while some did theirs in APC but all of us are gathered here today in the name of Ezza Ezekuna which shows that we are one and indivisible people, we are unique people.
“The party politics we played at the last general elections was for greener pasture. After the greener pasture, we return and use what we got and develop our people and our place. We must continue to be hardworking, which Ezza is known for, we should be the best at what we do.
Also, the Chairman of ALGON in the state and Chairman of Ezza North Local Government Area, Chief Ogodoali Nome assured that the people of the clan would support the administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru in the state.
He said, “We will use one mind and support your administration. We love your administration, you have shown us love, and you have appointed many sons and daughters of Ezza in your administration and we are happy about it.
“We, our friends and neighbors will continue to be one, we will not have issues with them. We will not fight government, we and government are one. It is only a bad child that will like himself and his father to be enemies. A good child will also seek to be on good terms with his father. Ezza and state government will continue to be united till governorship gets to us.”
Furthermore, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Oguzor Offia Nwali said “the time of party things are over, the general elections are over. It’s time for unity, it’s time for unity in Ezza. Unity is more important to us than party things. What we should do now is to look and see what we should do to be more united. We have to be united, we have to be one. Why we should be united is that Ezza is a big nation.
“What happened in the 2023 general election is according to the understanding of individuals. After the elections, we have come to understand ourselves more and know that God is the greatest.
“It is because God is the greatest that Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru won the governorship election. he won the election and gave positions to the youth. We must do the work he gave us very well to make him proud, we must support his administration.
“What we that are his appointees should do is to integrate Ezza people into his administration first, let us be one. There is a need for us to be one. Results from Ezza in the next general election will prove that what happened in 2023 is not what we should be angry for. What happened in that election is what is obtainable in other parts of the country.
On his part, Mr. Jude Chikadibia, but Commissioner for Information and State Orientation said, “I am happy for the unity the people of Ezza have shown in this grand finale of Okeaku. Our father Ezzekuna will be happy with what is happening at this grand finale. I am pleading that this love, unity, and oneness we have displayed at this grand finale should continue and it shall continue to be so.
“What happened at the 2023 general election should be seen as the past. We must support our governor because we are the eldest of Unwuekumenyi”.
