By Agbo Amuche, Abakaliki
The president of the apex socio-cultural organization popularly known as Oha Izhi Ezeogo Sunday Oketa has called on the people of Izhi clan, other clans in the State and entire South East geopolitical zone to massively participate on the ongoing INEC voter’s cards registration to enable the people of the zone to achieve their dream of producing Nigeria president from Igbo extraction come 2023.
Ezeogo Oketa made the call during a familiarization and advocacy visit of Oha Izhi Nnodo executives to the people of Okpuitumo Community in Abakaliki Local Government Area of the State.
The Monarch who also doubles as the traditional ruler of Nkaleke Echara Autonomous Community, advised the people of Izhi Nnodo clan to remain united and continue to be supportive to the policies and programmes of Ebonyi State government ably led by Engr. David Umahi.
He stressed the need for the people to go and obtain their voter’s cards, since it is a yardstick through which they would elect a credible leader of their choice who will govern the State and the country, and warned that any body from the clan who is up to eighteen years and above but fail to obtain his or her own would be sanctioned accordingly, even as the group would soon carry out ” operation show your PVC”.
The Oha Izhi Nnodo president general, further charged the people to embrace the culture of Izhi clan and never allowed it to go into extinction as it is not fetish, and added that tradition did not contravene religious activities.
He expressed satisfaction on the way the Community gave them warm reception, and hinted that Ojiji Izhi as one of the revered festivals of the people has gained national recognition, and appreciated them for their level of unity and love in the area.
He stressed the need for the people to shun kindred dicotomy which according to him, has done great harm than good, calling all and sundry to desist from it.
The president further urged traditional rulers and community leaders to persistently work in synergy in their various communities and charged communities without traditional ruler to as a matter of urgency produce them in unanimous agreement with the members of the particular community to ensure peace and development of their area.
On his part, the Vice chairman of Oha Izhi, Barr. Boniface Ezeagu noted that all the Izhi Nnodo cultural activities, including (Ojiji, Otutara) among others should be re-embraced, as total abandonment of some of the cultural activities have contributed to the major problems confronting the society, noting that the culture if embraced would promote unity, peace and harmony among members of the clan and beyond.
However, the National Secretary,Dr.John Nkwuda while given an overview of Izhi constitution said all issues bordering Izhi clan were incorporated in the constitution and called on the people of Okpuitumo Community to always be law abiding as Oha Izhi clan would not hesitate to sanction anybody found going against the law irrespective of how highly place in the society.
Lending his voice, the public Relation Officer Oha Izhi, Apostle Benjamin Obeji admonished People of the area to make the constitution a working document.
He added that the proper use of it would help promote understanding among leaders and their subjects.
Apostle Obeji enumerated the importance of town union President maintaining synergy with the traditional ruler and advised the two stakeholders to continue to work together to attract development in their community.
Speaking on behalf of Oha Izhi Lawyers Forum, Barr. James Ogbuinya hinted that Oha Izhi clan has prohibited selling of land outrightly especially in the rural areas, as the clan only supported the leasing capacity while calling on the land sellers to desist from such.
On her part, Mrs. Charity Ikebe advocated for all the Izhians to be a respecter of law and champion the course of oneness and peaceful coexistence among neighboring Communities as well as embrace the culture and ensure it’s sustainance.
Earlier in their remarks, President General of Okpuitumo Community Mr. Alfred Agbo and traditional ruler in the Community Ezeogo Stephen Ukpa , described the visit of Oha Izhi Nnodo as a welcome development and pledged to take the message to the grass roots.
They said the visit would help to champion the course of unity and peace while advising members of the community to be an advocate of peace for the overall development of the community.
The people lamented that there is no highly placed stakeholder in the Community since its creation due to their marginalization, and appealed to the people of Izhi Nnodo clan and Ebonyi State government to intervene in the situation as no government presence has been felt in the area.
The visit drew the presence of elders, youths, women among others.