April 14 2020 | The Biafra Telegraph
A CASE OF BENUE IGBO
It is no longer news that the predominant number of Igbo
origin are in the present-day Benue state today in not less than four LGAs,
namely Ado, Oju, Okpokwu and Obi LGAs.
With recognizable number of populations that is not less
than a million and hundreds of jobless graduates wallowing in tears and
excruciating pains daily with series of injustice perpetrated against us by the
past and successful government.
The largest market in one of the local governments is
located in our area that's the popular Inikiri Benue in Ado LGA.
Benue Igbo people are occupying a space of not less 500
villages. The Igbos found in Benue are Ezza, Izzi, Effium and Mgbo people, we
are here as a result of boundary problem necessitated by the colonial masters. Before
the civil war all were going well and smoothly, the existing mutual
relationship then between the good people of Idoma and Igbo people were like
salt and oil, inter-tribal marriage was on going then until when the civil
unrest broke out on May 30th, 1967.
The people of the Benue Igbo are no longer finding it
easy in any way both in political life, economic life etc. They are torn
between two paths; their kits and kin are also predominantly in Ebonyi state
the only state in the East where we supposed to rightfully belong. Benue state
governments both the state and Local administrators are not seeing us as part
of them as a result of language differences between us but in the same
Christian religion with them, in the other way round Ebonyi state government
where we supposed to be rightfully belonged are not helping issues since
there's no any part of our territory that is under her control of
administration and authority.
No government in Ebonyi both past successive and the
present one will ever deny the knowledge of our existence here in Benue state
since the first executive governor of the state who is also representing the
good people of Ebonyi North in the National Assembly Sen Dr Sam Egwu has a
close boundary with his Ohaukwu local government in Ebonyi and Ado local
government in Benue state.
Martin Elechi whose wife's hometown has a common boundary
between each other as well, is it Dave Umahi that his erstwhile perm sec
ministry of finance and economic development Ignatius Unah whose hometown is a
stone throw to Benue state will deny the knowledge of our existence?
It is really practically impossible for them to act that
way. Gov Samuel Ortom of Benue state visited and campaigned vigorously in our
areas he even toured round our communities on motorcycle during the period of
electioneering campaign with humongous and countless number of promises but
till date nothing has happened. Immediately he was declared the winner of 2019
governorship election he hurriedly sacked the first and the only indigenous
person who served his government as SA to the Gov on community relationship
Hon. chief Matthew Agom.
Our sin was only because we participated in defending our
territories during the civil war, the unforgettable memories that's still
giving them sleepless nights till date was the ingenuity displayed by our
fathers during the war by repelling many attacks and the blocking of Nigerian
army from penetrating into the Eastern region through our side which they later
went and followed Nsukka.
It is on record, unequivocally factual and undeniable
scrutiny that the people of the Benue Igbo are the most marginalized tribe in
the whole wide world, people without any governmental presence, no recognizable
basic amenity in the whole area.
We are just in pangs. The level of ostracism, negligence,
inhuman treatment and political upheaval been placed on us is still
inexplicable and beyond human expression since we have been totally abandoned
to our fate and forced to feel less human before our brothers as a result of
language barrier, animosity and unwarranted enduring hatred, we are the only
people in the world using pond as our only source of drinking water at the same
place with bush animals in this 21st century.
The 3R's policy initiated by Gen. Yakubu Gowon after the
war in 1970 are still questionable since the reintegration, reconstruction and
reconciliation policies have never been carried out in any of our respective
communities and villages till date since after the fifty years of the civil unrest
and unholy war in the country.
One thing there is that you can't question God for
instituting us here in Benue state, he has the reason and any attempt trying to
question our existence here in Benue will be tantamount in questioning the
existence of God.
We are only helping ourselves in our own way. We are in a
territory of no governmental presence.
All we are saying now is that we need help both from the
government and any willing individual before we'll be drowned here in Benue
state.
Written by:
Comr. Nweke Cedric Ifeanyichukwu
For: Biafra State Media
Published by:
Chibuike John Nebeokike
For: Biafra State Media
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