Ottah Agbo visits IDP camps in Ado

The Honourable Member representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency, Dr. Francis Ottah Agbo on Friday, visited Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps, displaced by the crisis between Effiom and Ezza, within Ado Local Government Area of Benue State.

What started as brouhaha amongst Effiom and Izzi members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers early this year in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State soon spilled to Ado, particularly in Effiom and Ezza settlements, leaving in its wake, many injured and killed, as well as thousands displaced from their homes! This led to the establishment of IDP camps at the LGEA Primary School, Ijigban and LGEA Primary School, Ulayi. Others are the LGEA 1 Primary School, Igumale and the Holy Cross Catholic Church Parish, Apa- Ogbozu where thousands of the displaced persons are taking shelter!

Dr. Ottah Agbo first made a stop at Igumale where he paid a courtesy visit to the Ada’ Ado and District Head of Igumale, Chief Joseph Otsikor Onazi before proceeding to the LGEA 1 Primary School, Igumale.

The Ada’ Ado, the two 3rd Class Chiefs in Ado, Chief Douglas Ogenyi Otseme and Chief Dr. Julius Iguve and the Chairman of Ado Clan Heads, Chief Attah Obande, the clergy and top government functionaries, Ado LGC Councillors led by the Deputy Leader, Hon Friday Adadu were on the entourage of the Parliamentarian!

Thousands of the displaced persons mainly women and children at the Igumale and Apa-Ogbozu Camps jubillated when they saw the Honourable Member as they broke into singing and dancing to usher in Dr. Ottah Agbo!

Dr. Ottah Agbo, popularity known as the Ozigizaga and Moving Train of Enone Politics had earlier explained to the Ada’Ado that he was visiting the camps and homes of victims to see the level of destruction and devastation to lives and property so that he will be well equipped to make presentations on the floor of the House and to press for the intervention of National Emergency Agency (NEMA) in Ado.

He had explained that he was also visiting the camps to make his personal donations and contribute towards alleviating the suffering of the displaced persons.
He declared that he derives pleasure serving humanity because according to him, “he that serveth man well, serveth God, his creator!”

At the two IDP camps visited yesterday, Dr. Ottah Agbo harped on the need for forgiveness and reconciliation, saying, that is the only way to ensure lasting peace.

He said, ” Nigeria is overwhelmed and soaked in insecurity. We do not have enough Military, Police and paramilitary to secure this blessed country… Even if you have the best army and police, equipped to the teeth, they cannot guarantee you peace. I learnt early in life that no amount of military hardware can truly secure and guarantee the peace of a people.

“What gives peace is the people’s shared value and their sheer determination to live in peace as one people! So unless Effiom/ Ezza people especially the war lords resolve to Iive in harmony with and forgive one another, when you return to your homes, you will still exude hatred and attack yourselves.

“In spite of the sophisticated military hardware of the defunct Soviet Union, the people couldn’t live together in one country, the union didn’t know peace until it was balkanized and the people went their separate ways and formed their own countries. Let us learn to jaw- jaw than to war-war! What this tells you is that the best military in the whole world cannot hold a people together, only the determination to live in harmony does. So Effiom/ Ezza stakeholders must sheath the sword and allow peace to reign!”

He added: ‘Ado is not Ebonyi and the Effiom and Ezza people living in Benue State are not Ebonyians and it is ridiculous to see Ezza or Effiom in Benue avenging in Ado, the killings in Ohaukwu Local Government of Ebonyi State..

“Effiom/Ezza, don’t turn Ado to a war zone, for it is better to jaw jaw than to war, war. At best, you can agree, and disagree without being disagreeable for you are brothers who had lived in peace for ages before the Ohaukwu crisis put you asunder…”

Dr. Ottah Agbo who doubles as Chairman, Narcotic Drugs Committee and Spokesman of the Minority Caucus, therefore condoled with those who lost their property and dear ones in the crisis and prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed.

While stressing that only God can truly console the victims and heal the land, the Lawmaker repeated that without forgiveness, all other measures put in place, including the best form of security cannot guarantee lasting peace and urged the people to learn to put the past behind them, live harmoniously and avoid violence.

The Lawmaker called on the Ezza, Effiom people in Benue to submit to the traditional institutions and constituted authorities in the state as they are their subjects!
One of the Youth Leaders of the Ezza Community in Benue, Mr. Igwe Chukwuma, thanked the Honourable Member for the visit, saying it would go a long way in assisting the people to pick up the pieces of their lives before they return to their respective communities. He said Dr. Ottah Agbo has always identified with them at all times and expressed happiness with his visit. Chukwuma noted that when the crisis first broke out, the lawmaker hosted Effiom/ Ezza meeting in Ijigban and brokered peace!

“We thought we had no hope but we are happy again that a highly placed official like you, the Ozigizaga and the Moving Train of our time has once again remembered us today, after he hosted us in Ijigban three months ago to broker peace! We pray God to reward you for your kindness, and leadership ” he stated.

The Parish Priest, Rev Fr. Solomon Uja who received the cash donations on behalf of the IDPs thanked the Honourable Member for the kind gesture and prayed God to replenish him in wealth and wisdom to continue to assist the poor and the less privileged. He described Dr. Ottah Agbo as his friend and brother, who has helped the Catholic in so many ways.
The cleric recalled how the people have been in pain and agony since the crises, saying the donations will go a long way in bringing succour and relief to the people.
The Ada’ Ado, thanked the lawmaker for paying him homage. He commended Dr. Ottah Agbo for always working for the poor and called on other politicians to emulate the Ozigizaga!

Also, Chiefs Ocheme and Iguve (the 3rd Class Chiefs) in their separate remarks thanked Dr. Ottah Agbo for coming and for extending his caring heart to the needy, stressing that they joined the Lawmaker to the IDP camps because he has proved to be a man of the people whose “words are his bonds.”
Highlight of the visit was when the Lawmaker took to the dancing floor to chant ‘Ekwensuu na ba ba ga zuruke’ (the devil is bragging, go and die) and the displaced persons chorused thunderously.
Today, the Train of the Honourable Francis Ottah Agbo will move to Ndi-Obasi where killer Fulani Militants last Sunday, invaded and killed over 130 Izzi and a Medical Doctor Corps Members serving in the area, in revenge of the killing of one Fulani man, Alhaji Isah by IPOB members months back!

By Andrew Agbese