Follow Us on Google
By Sunday Ani
The major political parties in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, have signed a peace accord to ensure peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections during the governorship and state assembly polls on March 18, 2023.
The meeting was held against the backdrop of insecurity in the area leading to the deployment of soldiers and policemen, after the declaration of state of emergency in the area by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Leaders of the three majority parties in the area, met with traditional rulers from about 37 communities at the palace of the traditional ruler of Essodo Kingdom and former Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Simeon Osisi Itodo where the peace accord meeting was held on Wednesday.
The Director General of Chijioke Edeoga Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation, Hon. Fidel Ayogu, Chief Matthias Omeh and the Chairman of Labour Party in the area, William Onyeke, represented the Labour Party, LP, on the occasion, while the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was represented by the Local Government Chairman, Prince Ejike Itodo, the Zonal Chairman of the party in Enugu North Senatorial District, Chief Mike Onyeze, Alex Urama, the party chairman in Igboeze North and Onyeka Eya. The All Progressives Congress, APC team was led by Ms Oby Aji.
Speaking on the occasion, Igwe Itodo noted that the meeting was summoned to ensure that the Governorship and House of Assembly elections did not degenerate into crisis as witnessed in the area in 2003, (during the administration of Chimaroke Nnamani.
During the 2003 elections, some thugs attacked the supporters of the governorship candidate of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Chief Fidel Ayogu at Prince Okafor Omeh’s residence leading to several deaths and the burning of several vehicles belonging to the then ANPP members.
However, the monarch noted that the people of Igboeze North are descendants of one parent and therefore, avoid any situation that could led to the shedding of blood, adding that “anybody who did not win elections today can win tomorrow, hence it should not be a do or die affair.
The Chairman of Igbo Eze North Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Gabriel Agbedo and the traditional ruler of Amaja Community, Igwe Ignatius Idoko, a.k.a Atlas, corroborated Igwe Itodo’s call for peaceful polls and appealed to traditional rulers to prevail on candidates in their areas of influence to be of good behaviour, as there should be no violence of any type.
Chief Onyeze, Matthias Omeh, Prince Ejike Itodo and Chief Fidel Ayogu and Ms Oby Aji, who reacted to the appeals from the monarchs supported the call for non- violence throughout the remaining period of the campaigns and voting.
