•Ebonyi, C’River rekindle good neighbourliness
From Wilson Okereke, Afikpo
Hostilities between Ojiegbe, Izzi Local Government, Ebonyi State and Ntrigom, South Ukelle, Yala LG, Cross River State, lasted for many years before the warring communities embraced peace, recently. Priests of the Catholic parishes in the two communities were central to the return of peace in the areas.
The clerics on June 29, 2025, continued the peace process with a novelty football match between the two communities to further strengthen the coexistence of the residents.
Parish Priest of St. Bernard Catholic Church, Ojiegbe, Rev. Fr. Kingsley Chukwunonso Ogbu, said: “Today, we are happy to have this exercise between Cross River and Ebonyi states from the two neighbouring communities that had crises some time ago. It is a thing of joy that trust has returned between them because there had been a situation of distrust and lack of communication.”
He noted that the friendly match was the second edition as the first leg was played last year at Okumenyi in Izzi. He also stated that through the closeness forged through sports especially football, the youths from both communities would become used to one another.
Ogbu said he is into collaboration with his counterpart of St. Peter Quasi Parish, Ntrigom, to reorganise the minds of the youth who are the future generation: “From the youth, the frontier will be expanded to involve the church hierarchy, village heads and the states.
“Actually, our different bishops were supposed to be here but something happened, though they gave their blessings, so for the bishops to have come into the occasion will prevent eruption of further crisis.”
To the priest of St. Peter Quasi Parish, Ntrigom, Fr. Francis Abang, the event was part of the annual solemnity of the two greatest apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul known as the Princes of the Church and foremost of the disciples.
He said: “The essence is to restore trust and friendliness between the previously warring communities and ensure that a similar situation will not come up. For those who are aware of the crises where there were so much trouble and tensions between the two communities in some parts of Ebonyi and Cross River States basically in Izzi and Ukelle, presently, the problem had gone.
“But there has not been trust between the people. This is why my colleague, Fr. Kingsley that represents Izzi axis and I representing Ukelle axis began to work to ensure that the youths of both sides will no longer pick up guns, cutlasses and other weapons against one another by uniting them with football matches and other related activities.
“That is the reason that informed this idea. Interestingly, this is not the first time as we have had a similar exercise during the Youths’ Week at Okumenyi.”
Fr. Abang charged the people to always demonstrate peace of Christ through which people would see one another as brother and sister whether in Izzi axis or Ukelle, to rebuild the trust and develop their communities.
Priest of St. Justin Paris, Okumenyi, Rev. Fr. Benedict Alimode, urged all to have relaxed minds for one another to further enhance the prevailing peaceful atmosphere.
Coach of the Izzi football side, Steve Nwode and his Ukelle counterpart, Ernest Abari, described the football match as the most unifying factor and commended the priests for adopting such approach for the peace process: “Our first match at Okumenyi that attracted a large number of spectators was wonderful as we played like brothers, ate and drank together after the match.
“We equally thanked our various players for observing all the rules while in the pitch and urged the organisers to make the exercise an annual event.”
Presidents of the youths of St. Bernard and St. Peter Quasi Parishes, Dr. Victor Ogbonna and Ignatius Eji in separate interviews, told Daily Sun that the event would foster togetherness between the youths of the various areas.
They attributed the former problem to lack of understanding emphasising that with the people’s level of exposure presently, a similar issue would not be allowed. They commended priests, youths and others who had contributed to engendering and sustaining their peaceful coexistence.
Bishops of the Catholic Dioceses of Abakaliki and Ogoja, respectively, Most Rev. Peter Nworie Chukwu and Most Rev, Donatus Edet Akpan, endorsed the football match.