RIGHT TO LIVE AND RESIDE IN NIGERIA, A BRIEF
LOOK AT THE EZZA-EZILLO CRISIS.
First
they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a
Communist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out
because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not
speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and at that time
there was no one left to speak for me.
------Martin Niemoller.
Ezza
and Ezillo are two communities in Ishielu local government of Ebonyi state of Nigeria. The crisis which
started in 2008 following a disagreement between two recharge card vendors over
who should mount umbrella at a particular spot in the market, gradually
metamorphosed into a big war on the eve of the new year,31st
December, 2011, which left over sixty (60) people dead, many others injured and
a few lucky ones fled with their lives.
Prior to the massacre in December 2011,
on several occasions, innocent travellers were killed and their buses set on
fire on the Enugu- Abakaliki express way, which led many travellers to seek an
alternative route (the Amasiri -Okigwe
express way) for fear of their lives. Security men were posted to the troubled
zone but sad enough, it didn’t stop the killing of innocent people.
The question is, how did a communal
crisis, (a land dispute) turn into a full blown war? We won’t even delve into that but we all know
that a stitch in time, saves nine.
Five months later and nothing tangible
has been done, peace is yet to return to the area, indigenes of ezillo
community have fled their homes and the question now is, does it mean they no
more have villages? Where will the children show their children and grand
children as their home town? What of their right to life? And right to live and
reside anywhere in Nigeria? With the boko haram menace, driving people who are
not northerners to “their own part of the country”, where will citizens of
ezillo community return to?
Is there hope for peace? The governor of
Ebonyi state, Mr. Martins Elechi was
quoted to have said that “the Ezza and Ezillo communities might never live
together again due to the scale of killings”[1].
Yes! he is partly right, just that he forgot to add that they will never live
together like this again; where
sanctity of life is taken for granted, because the government can’t provide
basic security; where ‘recharge card business’ has become the one common job
youths would fight and die for, because government is clueless about decent job
creation for the very citizens they promised heaven on earth when they were
canvassing for votes.
We urge the government of Nigeria not
just that of Ebonyi State to work harder
to ensure the return of peace to the troubled area. The government can do this
by being more proactive; pay compensation to the displaced people. Call for
peace talks and not taking sides. Employ more security personnel to the area.
Law enforcement officers should arrest and prosecute the culprits responsible
for the breach of peace. And more importantly, actively engage her young
populace with decent-paying- jobs. The
idle mind,they say, is the devil’s workshop.
We also call on the traditional rulers,
stake holders, elders, youth, children and all indigenes of Ezza- Ezillo to bury
their hatchets, forgive and forget. It’s painful but that is the way forward.
They should meet with the government and ensure that peace is achieved. The
government cannot do it alone. Also neighbouring communities should contribute
to the peace by not taking sides but giving good advice, spread the message of
peace not discord.
Finally, let all remember that it
doesn’t matter who is right or wrong, at the end of the day, we shall all die
and leave the earth, other people will occupy that land. Live and let others
live. Fighting has never been the best solution. The most justified war is
still worse than a less logical peace agreement. Let us live together in unity
and harmony, keeping in mind that every citizen of Nigeria has a right to life
and also has a right to live in any community he so desires. Let us keep up a
positive attitude.
Long live Ebonyi state of Nigeria!
Long live the federal republic of Nigeria!
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