Peace remains the foundation for meaningful development. Just as Nelson Mandela noted, “peace is the greatest weapon for development that any person can have.” In his operational manual of governance, themed, The People’s Charter of Needs, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru strongly defined his mission about the peace and security of Ebonyi State…’to prioritize the internal security in Ebonyi State and delineate intra-state boundaries, reconcile, reconstruct and rehabilitate conflict areas.
On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Governor led a host of stakeholders of the State to Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Effium community to be precise, for intra-state boundary delineation. Having assented to Law No 004 of 2025 – ‘Ebonyi State Effium and Alioma Peace Pact, Creation of Effium, Ekereigwe, Ijem, Alioma and Ezekuna-Alioma Autonomous Communities and Land Demarcation Law, 2025’, the stage was legally and courageously set for a defining moment in the history of a people that are literally torn apart in crisis.
And so, for what it’s worth, NOTHING was more important than having the Governor in Effium at that moment.
His demeanour spoke for him. He was pumped with positive energy. He gave his remarks, holding nothing back. The inner rage was absolutely necessary. He poured his heart out as he proclaimed the creation of five autonomous communities, as noted above. The event itself, signified the flag-off of the 25.5km road, demarcating the boundaries to the letter of the Law. Interestingly, Governor Nwifuru flavoured his remarks with choicest passages of the Holy Scriptures, calling for togetherness, forgiveness, love for one another and a penchant for peaceful coexistence. That, however, did not exclude a bold warning for intending defaulters of the peace pact.
In the end, his move, as always, represents a PRAGMATIC approach towards achieving peace. The Governor is not set to reconstruct buildings in the crisis area lest a precedent be set wrongly. However, roads will be built by Government and areas earmarked as acquired by Government for overriding public interest and Federal Government Forest Reserves, remain sacred species. Only a leader clothed in courage and purposeful intentions for peace, can pull off such a landmark story.
Ebonyi will remain the most peaceful State in Nigeria. It is non-negotiable. This is because, peace has been institutionalized in Ebonyi State. Upon this platform, untold development, love and success stories will be recorded in the land of Effium and Alioma, by extension, the entire Ebonyi State, courtesy of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, the Governor. He is meeting the needs of Ebonyi people with aplomb.
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