No More War in C’River Community- Elders

Chiemeka ADINDU, Calabar

Leaders and citizens of Bhahumono community in the Abi Local Government Area of Cross River state have resolved to end a form of conflicts with their neighbouring communities.

The reconciliation meeting is coming after the affected nine communities comprising; Usumotung, Abeugo, Afafanyi, Anong, Bazohure, Ebijakara, Ebom, Ediba, and Igonigoni underscored the need for peace and reconciliation so as to promote meaningful growth in the area.

Speaker after speaker reiterated that peace was key to ensure development.

Paramount Ruler of Abi Local Government Area, HRH Ovai Osim Edward maintained that the traditional hand washing ceremony which was held at the ancestral home of the Bhahumono nation signified the end of restlessness and hostility among the warring communities.

He also attributed the success of the peace talks to DSP Sunday Eremi who played significant role in bringing an end to the prolonged communal clashes and bloodbath.

He said, “For the past ten years we have been struggling for peace to come, but no way. God used one police officer to rally the youths and the youths unanimously agreed not to fight again. He is the author of the peace. This is the climax of everything we have been doing and that is to say, we will not see one another’s blood again. We remain one and united Bhahumono, not divided, not in crisis again.

“Whatever is the problem between us, we will resolve it peacefully because there is no society without a problem or crisis. But when there are challenges, when there are crisis, we will handle them in a mature, peaceful manner devoid of rancor, crisis, violence and bloodshed. That is the significance of this gathering”. He however advised the youths to shun every form of cultism to ensure the total annihilation of any form of crisis in the area.

Narrating how the peace talks were successfully achieved, Eremi said, “while I was in police pcademy in 2006, there was a communal clash in Bhahumono between two communities and since then Bhahumono has not been the same.

“Because of my passion and feeling for my people, sometimes I will take leave to visit home. I will talk to the youths on how to bring their arms down. I will preach to them the need for peace in different occasions to an extent where the present Chairman of Abi Local Government Area began to partner with the commissioner to see how we will bring the youths together.

“There have been disparities and differences, but my intervention with my partners we were able to succeed because I’ve been able to know about 80 per cent of the minds of the youths that indeed they are tired of the problem.

“There has been no movement for these years. In fact, the lockdown in Bhahumono was worse than the COVID-19 lockdown. But within the twinkle of an eye God in His infinite mercy used me to go round these communities to talk to these warring youths.

“This peace is a mystery that nobody will understand because our prominent and elites didn’t understand the dynamics of this particular peace”.

Also speaking, commissioner for special duties, Frank Etah said the ceremony was a dream come true for the entire Bhahumono nation.

He said the event marked the beginning of peace and social interaction. He encouraged the youths to continue to love themselves and learn to be together as brothers and sisters.

He promised that they would always come in as leaders to assist the youths tackle whatever challenges they may have.

On their part, Chairman of Abi Local Government Council, Farathor Robinson Riman and Councilor representing Usumotung/Abeugo communities who is also the deputy leader of Abi 7th legislative council, Princewill Nkanu expressed satisfaction at the decision of the warring youths to lay down their arms.

They promised to enact a bye law to forbid a particular community to carry arms and other community leaders. police officer to rally the youths and the youths unanimously agreed not to fight again. He is the author of the peace. This is the climax of everything we have been doing and that is to say, we will not see one another’s blood again. We remain one and united Bhahumono, not divided, not in crisis again.

“Whatever is the problem between us, we will resolve it peacefully because there is no society without a problem or crisis. But when there are challenges, when there are crisis, we will handle them in a mature, peaceful manner devoid of rancor, crisis, violence and bloodshed. That is the significance of this gathering”.

He however advised the youths to shun every form of cultism to ensure the total annihilation of any form of crisis in the area.