TOWARDS PEACE IN EBIRALAND

Written by: Ibrahim Ahmed

Posted by: Dr. Joseph Ozigis Akomodi, New York, USA.

Critical analysis of the history of Ebiraland and its people shows that they were not born with the culture of violence in them. Rather, they were, known for their industrial and Productive farming activities, especially in such states as Ondo, Edo and, to some extent, Oyo states, lived peacefully with their brothers and sisters of the famous Kwararafa Kingdom of the 17th century.

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This is reflected in their name, "Ebira", which means "good manner", blended with rich cultural heritage that could hardly be eclipsed by any standard culture in the then Nigerian area of the pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial periods, according to the available historical and archival materials of recorded human activities.

However, the down of modern political development and the selfish nature of the current political terrain of the country, which has set politicians and the electorate on the collusion course in the realm of rats race syndrome, for the survival of the strongest, has negatively affected the land and the culture of its people in many spheres of human endeavour, particularly in the political realm.

By implication, the negative effects of the political quacmire have continued to cast its telling results on both the culture and psyche of the people. Today, many people do not talk of the cherished culture of the people of Ebira land any more but the prevalence of political violence and thuggery, a negative phenomenon the impact of which has seriously dwarfed the positive side of the people.

A scenario, in the April 14, 2007, general elections in Kogi state and its impact on the political atmosphere in Ebira land, is a sufficient case in point. Twenty-year-old Saidu was an indigene of Okene town, in central senatorial district of Kogi state, who had just completed his secondary education, with flying colours. He was full of high hope to further his studies, up to the highest level of education, university, his country, Nigeria can provide her citizens, to enable him contribute meaningfully to the development of his father land, the country and the world at large.

Being the first and most brilliant child, in the line of six children of his petty-trading and farming-parents, in the neighbouring Owo town of Ondo state, his parents were said to have toiled to train him through secondary school education, with the hope that when trained up to university level, he would shoulder the responsibility of training his three younger brothers and two sisters. His peers disclosed that Saidu was fond of praising his parents, for their toiling efforts in training him, promising them that as soon as he was able to get his degree, as Medical Doctor and secured job, he would not only compensate them but take up the education of the younger ones. However, all that is now a painful history and a sad reminder of the evil effects of thuggery that has become the bane, of the land in question, stunting its desired development in the socio- political landscape of Nigeria, as Saidu is now lying quietly in his grave at Okene public cemetery.

Saidu's life and his tall ambition were cut short, in the cobweb of fierce political thuggery that enveloped Okene town during the elections, between the supporters of two dominant rival political parties; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Action Congress (AC) in the area. Much painful, according to sources, is the fact that Saidu, was of high level discipline, a virtue he acquired from his high, sound moral and humble background, which earned, him, the accolade of "Good boy", and "shining light for other youths" in the area.

He was said to be in his parents house, full of life and was helping his brothers and sisters to secure their tickets for brighter future, in their educational pursuits, through academic coaching, during their holiday, when death came calling, unheralded. An eyewitness said one of the thugs, apparently trying to escape the law of retribution, having caused the death of a member of the rival party, during a fierce battle for supremacy in thuggery in Okene, the previous day, was said to have run into the house, where Saidu was coaching his younger ones some lesson notes. The fleeing thugs, who was being trailed by other dagger-drawn thugs, was said to have raised to the house, were Saidu was and mixed with the group of students receiving lessons.

His colleagues, on revenge mission at all cost, were said to have launched missile attacks at him, immediately, but missed their targets and instead descended on Saidu, whom they thought was their target and beat him thoroughly, to the point of comma. Unfortunately, Saidu's plea for mercy, on account that he was a victim of mistaken identity, fell on deaf ears of his tormentors, who beat him mercilessly and left him in his own pool of blood. He was said to have been rushed to hospital, by some good Nigerians to a nearby hospital where Doctors tried but in vain to save his life. The agony of the parents of the innocent victims of political thuggery in Kogi state, especially the central zone of the geo-political entity, is highly imagined than said.

The issue of political thuggery is a general phenomenon in Nigeria, but political analysts observe that there seems a marked different in Kogi central, given the frequency and magnitude of its occurrence, even after the April 14 election and subsequent series of elections in the State. Ihima, one of the first settlements in Ebiraland was turned to a theatre of bloody political thuggery, during the general elections, and even after the exercise, where many lives and valuable property were lost, leaving the ancient town almost in desolate existence and absolute despair among the people and their well wishers.

However, it is a thing of joy to note that Kogi State government and peace-loving people of the land and the state are not resting on their oars, in ensuring that the ugly phenomenon, that has smeared the good image of Ebiraland and its peace-loving people and the state at large, is brought to its barest minimum, if not logical end. The urgent need to bring to an end the disturbing political problems in Ebiraland, led to the inauguration of an assemblage of wise men and women, into a committee, selected by the state government, to find the remote causes of the problem in Ebiraland, with a view to finding lasting solutions to them.

Submitting the reports of the committee to the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, in Lokoja recently, after about two months of sitting, the chairman of the peace committee, Retired Major-General Chris Alli, expressed optimism that the political problem in the land would soon be a thing of the past. According to him, this is exemplified by the fact that many people in the land, especially the politicians, have now realised the futility of their unpatriotic actions and need for peace to reign in the land.

As the first step towards concretizing the sincerity of their purpose, for peace to reign supreme in the area, the committee chairman disclosed that many of the politicians, in the land who have dragged their perceived political enemies to courts, over some vexing political issues, have resolved to settle out of courts. Alli, also revealed that most of the political leaders in Ebiraland had seen the wisdom in shielding their swords and close ranks for meaningful development to take place in the land, as exemplified in their enthusiastic responses to the clarion call, by the committee to submit memoranda, for the lasting solutions to the problems. He called on them to see themselves as brothers and sisters, who should not do anything to divide their indivisible entity, as members of the Ebira nation, known for its peace, development and fame, noble contributions to the socio-economic and political process of Nigeria, for ages.

Another ray of hope that the political problem in Ebiraland will soon be a history, came to fore, recently, at the office of the state Deputy Governor, Dr Phillips Salawu, an Ebira citizen, when Senator Saliu Ohize, of Action Congress (AC), representing Kogi central in the National assembly and his arch-rival, Mallam Ahmed Ogembe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), publicly embraced themselves, to the utter astonishment of their followers. It will be recalled that many of the supporters of the two political giants, in the land have maimed and in extreme instances killed, on the platter of political thuggery.

The duo, who are leading the two prominent political parties in Ebiraland, within the current democratic dispensation in the area, were seen sitting, side by side with each other, holding their hands together and beaming infectious smiles to themselves, during another peace meeting, meant to further cement the current peace in the land. In their separate speeches, made voluntarily, in the presence of the commissioner of police in Kogi state, Mr. Ibezimako Aghanya, Ogembe and Ohize described themselves as "brothers", engaged in the game of politics, with the aim of contribute their quota to the socio-economic and political development of their fatherland and the state in general.

Political analysts described the meeting as unique, as it has brought together, an assemblage of politicians of different shades of opinion, who have not been on talking terms for some quiet some times. They further argued that for the brain storming session to have taken place in the first place is an eloquent sign of good things to come over the misty political climate in Kogi central and indeed, the state in general. All the stakeholders that attended the meeting left he venue with a optimism that the return of peace, to Ebira land is a task that must be done, uphold and sustained and that such the realisation of a collective dream would come sooner than later.

Ogembe and Ohize did not only speak in the voice of unison, condemning the political problem, caused by their supporters in Lokoja and Okene, they equally dissociated themselves for the dastard acts, with a call on their supporters to eschew such behaviour in the interest of peace in Ebira land.

The Ohinoyi of Ebira land, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim who was said have reconciled his differences with the state Deputy Governor, Dr Phillips Salawu, recently, was not left out of the re-union exercise at the meeting, as he was also seen, sitting majestically, in front of Phillips, whom he exchanged pleasantries, with smiles with during the meeting. Phillips reciprocated with respect, for his Royal Father, with infectious smiles while other political leaders watched with the air of internal joy, for the unfolding positive development in the political log-jam in Ebiraland and its people.

However, economic analysts have argued that, for lasting and meaningful peace to return to Ebiraland and indeed other dark spots in the state, the state government must, as a matter of urgency and decisively too, address the problem of youth unemployment and its youth restiveness that has become a frighten bane in the state. Mallam Mohammed Abukakar, an economic expert, based in Lokoja, contended that many employable but unemployed youths, in the state fell prey to the hands of selfish politicians, not because of their wish but due to lack of gainful employment, to occupy their empty minds and hands and shield them from the indulging in social vices, such as thuggery.

Mohammed, who commended the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, for earmarking N42 million, for fish farmers, in the state, many of whom are youths, to engage in fish farming, said such step "is as a right programme in the right direction". He however called on the implementors of the programme, to ensure justice and transparency in the implementation of such programme so that the genuine objective of the government, in getting most its youths engaged in meaningful economic activities, irrespective of tribal, religious or political differences, is accomplished. According to him, the frightening youth restiveness that pervaded the political landscape of the state would be reduced to the barest minimum, if the government could fashion out more pragmatic youth programmes, as he promised the people, during his electioneering campaign to the electorate in the state.

Most importantly, it is high time the political leaders realized the fact that the nation gains nothing when they mortgage the life of other people's children in thuggery spree, to gain political selfish. Most importantly, the Ebiras owe the society a duty to look inward for the lasting solutions to their political problem as they are the ones that wear the shoe and know where it pinches. This they can do by retracing the glorious historical path of their land, which cherished sanctity of life, hard work, political sagacity and other positive Attributes.

With this positive development in place, they will be in proper vantage to struggle for what they call "Political justice", in the political equation of the state, their aged long dream, since the creation of the state August 27, 1991.



Ibrahim Ahmed is a Public Affairs analyist