The road to Ebira unity and emancipation

Amid increasing challenges to socio-economic and political developments across Nigeria, the Ebira Peoples Association (EPA) penultimate Thursday marshaled the roadmap for the emancipation of the people, using an interface of the ‘who-iswho’ in Ebiraland, as captured by AGI ONDA

For the Ebira people, a homogenous stock occupying the Kogi Central senatorial district, the grace of God is the vortex that drives their modest accomplishments in administration, art, culture, religion and governance. Notwithstanding the individual and collective milestones recorded by the people in the last three decades, it does appear that the journey to the promise land is stunted by myriads of hiccups.

It was to salvage the situation amid festering challenges that the Ebira Peoples Association, in liaison with about 60 civil society organisations in the senatorial district, penultimate Thursday, organised a oneday brainstorming session at Chelsea Hotels, Abuja. At least 129 participants, made up of representatives of Kogi state government, leaders from the 60 CSOs, national and state executives of EPA and some notable sons and daughters of Ebiraland from across the country attended the talk-shop.

President General of EPA, Dr. Adeiza MAbdulrahaman, who unveiled the agenda of the interface with the theme: “Unity of Ebira; A Panacea for Socio-economic and Political Development,” did not mince words when he identified Ebiraland as the gateway to the North and South of Nigeria, and thus a potential commercial hub, particularly given its strategic geographical location.

Calling for greater energy in harnessing the cultural legacies of the forebearers in the deployment of human and material resources, Dr Abdulrahaman also enjoined Anebira to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness, necessary for the fostering of the required unity that would enable them gain relevance in the political space in Kogi in particular and Nigeria in general.

In his words, he said: “We need leaders in the mould of our forefathers who sacrificed their comforts by converting the rooms, parlours and garages of their houses to dormitories for the indigent children of the community to have access to education.”

The Kogi state government also showed its support for EPA with a high powered delegation led by Arc. Mumuni Okara, Special Adviser to the Governor on SDGs and Hajia Ladi Ibrahim, Director General, Bureau of Lands, Kogi State, as well as Chairmen of Adavi and Ajaokuta Local Governments Areas .

Also in attendance were Senator Ahmed Salawu Ogembe, represented by Hon. Aloysius Okino, Senior Legislative Aide, Hon. Tijani Damisa of the House of Representatives, represented by Dr. Jerome Ohikere, members of the State House of Assembly from the zone, Chief Dr. Tom Adaba, former Director General of the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and other notable Ebira personalities. A key paper on the theme was presented by Prof. Ahmed Adam Abere, Dean of the Post-graduate School, Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, which set the tone for the breakout session. The literary icon noted that the unity of the Anebira of old led them to succeed at the historical ‘Ireku Ajinomo’.

He, like Dr Abdulrahaman and others at the event, underscored the importance of unity, which he said should start in the family as the nucleus of the society. Prof Abere specifically advocated for the revival of occupational peer groups which he identified as the key ingredient that held Ebira together in the past. The meeting later broke out into syndicate, with cells variously headed by Prof Audu, a former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Rear Admiral Anthony Isa, former Commandant of the Nigeria War College, Barrister Natasia Apoti, Alh Mohammed Atta and Dr. (Mrs) Lami Ahmed.

A key element of the interface was a communiqué drafted by Hajia Zainab Okino, Editor-in-Chief of Blueprint Newspapers, Barr Zakari Aliyu and Franca Aiyetan which summed recommendations of the participants. Interestingly, the Ebira forum took a holistic view of the challenges facing the land, including the urgent need for the federal government to address the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Complex.

Among other things, the forum called for the holistic re-design of the master plan of the steel project as well as the engagement of the original builders of the complex. Besides, the participants urged the creation of a Ministry of Steel Development or National Steel Development Authority, to be managed by metallurgical experts, with the responsibility of regulating the production and pricing of steel in line with international best practices.

They also advocated for the retrieval of the national Iron ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) from Global Infrastructures Limited to commence mining activities. Sub-topics for the breakout session refl ecting the areas of concerns in Ebiraland, included sustaining the current security efforts and enduring peace and unity ahead of the 2019 elections and beyond. Other issues discussed included the role of CSOs as advocates of peace building and unity as well as the control of the menace of drug abuse in Ebiraland.

To stem the ugly tide, the communiqué tasked the umbrella association (EPA) to encourage adequate parental care in Ebiraland in order to ward-off the menace of drug abuse; it also charged the CSO to, in collaboration with others, carry out more research into the historical background to conflicts in Ebiraland and proffer solutions to them.

For a sustainable advocacy, the CSO was directed to convene a second interface with politicians to design a platform where aspirants would tell the people their antecedents and blueprint as well as design guidelines to regulate the activities of different political partes by, for instance, ensuring that no two parties hold rallies or ward congresses the same day in the same ward so as to avoid conflicts. Similarly, EPA was mandated to engage in continuous admonition and campaign for human dignity, respect for elders and constituted authorities. Outside the core mandates of the Association, EPA was shoved with the following responsibilities:

(1) To establish counselling centres in LGAs and health clubs in schools

(2) carry out advocacy through traditional outlets (Ohis and traditional artists) on the dangers of drug abuse

(3)) ensure skill acquisition for the youths of Ebira (4) engage traditional rulers and relevant stakeholders to address long standing land disputes

(5) engage philanthropists, international development partners and relevant governmental and non governmental agencies towards alleviating or totally eradicating poverty and creating wealth in Ebiraland and

(6) form a link between government and the general public where information gathered through intelligence could be relayed to the relevant authorities.

Others are;

(7) to embark on sensitisation visits to schools to advise students on the need to be law abiding

(8) encourage recreational activities and provide facilities to schools and town centers

(9) encourage the youths to engage in activities that would allow for wealth creation and

(10) advocate the girl child education in Ebiraland.

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