Ishinkwo Community Development Union (ICDU), in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi state, has called on Governor Francis Nwifiru to prevail on the Abaomege and Ishinkwo boundary demarcation implementation committee to implement the official gazetted white paper on the ongoing boundary demarcation process in the area, accusing the boundary demarcation committee of been hijacked, by influence, peculiar interest, clannishness, nepotism and sectional interest exhibited by those seating in the corridor of power against Ishinkwo Community.
In a letter made available to Journalists in Abakaliki by the President of Ishinkwo Development Union, Mr Itumo Joseph Nwaliebu in the company of the youth president Hon. Ndubuisi Awoh, on behalf of Ishinkwo people, expressed displeasure with the way and manner the demarcation implementation Committee is handling the demarcation exercise, warning that their actions are tantamount to jeopardizing the peace process initiated by Governor Francis Nwifiru.
The statement commended Governor Francis Nwifiru for his dogged efforts aimed at maintaining peace and orderliness in every part of Ebonyi State.
The statement reads in full;
"Your Excellency, The Executive Governor, Ebonyi State, Government House, Centenary City, Abakalki.
Your Excellency Sir,
OPEN LETTER TO THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF EBONYI STATE, RT. HON. BUILDER FRANCIS OGBONNA NWUFURU: AN S.O.S IN BENDING A RULE AND RE-THE SHORT CHANGING OF ISHINKWO COMMUNITY IN THE ONGOING BOUNDARY DEMARCATION EXERCISE ON THE DISPUTED LANDS BETWEEN ISHINKWO AND ABAOMEGE COMMUNITIES-A CALL FOR HIS EXCELLENCY'S PROMPT INTERVENTION IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE INJUSTICE.
"We, the people of Ishinkwo. Community, Onicha Local Government Area, Ebonyl State, Nigeria, wishes to thank and appreciate His Excellency the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, for his dogged efforts aimed at maintaining peace and orderliness in every part of Ebonyi State.
"The purpose of this open letter is to draw the attention of His Excellency to the problem facing the boundary demarcation exercise between Ishinkwo and Abaomege, Communities which invariably is affecting Ishinkwo Community who depend on His Excellency to get the exercise balance on Justice and fairness.
"Your Excellency sir, we wish to note that various complaint letters has been written to His Excellency by Ishinkwo Community, to inform His Excellency about the discrepancies arising from the ongoing boundary demarcation exercise.
"Sir, it is observed with dismay, that non of these reports has ever reached the table of His Excellency and that necessitate the writing of this open letter.
"Sir, unfortunately, however, the boundary demarcation Implementation committee has strived to conceal His Excellency's sight and knowledge out of the process of the demarcation exercise and thereby jeopardized the procedure.
"Your Excellency, may wish to note that His Excellency on the 17th day of July, 2023 Inaugurated a peace committee chaired by Late HRH Ezeogo Engr. Ewa Elechi to inquire into the remote and immediate causes of the long aged crises between Ishinkwo and Abaomege Autonomous Communities and make useful recommendations on the appropriate measures to finding lasting peace in the two communities.
"Sir, the committee concluded its assignment in time and submitted its report to the Ebonyl State Government. The said report embodied their findings and far reaching resolutions/recommendations aimed at resolving the crises once and for all.
"Your Excellency sir, Ebonyi State Government accepted all the recommendations of the committee and Issued a white paper which has been gazette in tits official white paper on 22nd day of December, 2023.
"Sir, paragraph 2 and 4 of the said official gazette out lined as follows:
"Paragraph 2 stated that Government should adopt the principle of fairness and equity in demarcating the disputed boundary between the two communities by considering proximity in allocating the 8 contentious swamp lands to any of the deserving community.
"Paragraph 4 stated that the Government should construct a concrete road of 10m wide of about 16km from half way between 917 and 918 Amudo passing through Igborkor swamp to Idumayo half way Idumayo River between P29 and P53 through Eguachara across Obayi stream towards P43 and coming out through Ngene obenwa across Okomini stream.
"Your Excellency sir, that contrary to the description of the above mentioned white paper the whole boundary demarcation exercise are been hijacked, by influence, peculiar interest, clannishness, nepotism and sectional interest exhibited by those seating in the corridor of power against Ishinkwo Community. And Ishinkwo as a people are el been treat as not part of the electorate or governed by the A governance in Onicha Local Government Area, Ebonyi State and Nigeria at large.
"However, we as a people have a right to live where ever Almighty God has planted us to live.
"Sir, the weak, down trodden and minority society ought to be given the right to co-exist with the larger society group hence inequality is a natural phenomenon globally.
"Sir, the boundary demarcation committee abandoned the use of the official gazette white paper and preferred to implement the old purported boundary of Abaomege Community, and discarded the idea that Ishinkwo Community equally has her boundary which passed through the axis of the boundary between Ebonyi Central and Ebonyl South, along Abakaliki to Afikpo Federal Road and terminated at Ebonyi River, head bridge, by the boundary between Ishinkwo Community Onicha L.G.A and Ohanwegu Akpuoha Community in Afikpo North Local Government Area, Ebonyl State. exercise is full of
"Sir, while we said that the boundary demarcation influence, peculiar interest and nepotism there are points to buttress our observations. For instance, in the cause of the demarcation process where ever Abaomege Community claimed to be their boundary, the surveyors often hastily placed a caution tap and Immediately order bull dozer operator to commence work on the acclaimed boundary, where as they fall deaf ear to the complaint of Ishinkwo Community. The action entail pure rape of justice.
"Your Excellency sir, according to paragraph 2 of the official gazette white paper mentioned above in paragraph 8 of this open letter to His Excellency in considering proximity, Iyocha swamp land is nearer to Abaomege Community, and it was ceded to them, whereas Ekerigwe and Agbechicha is situated in the hinter land of Ugwuokwe village in Ishinkwo Community, but the committee in contrary to the white paper, went on to demarcate the two swamp lands and thereby planning to carve out four sub - villages from Ishinkwo Community and cede them to Abaomege Community. And we have been living and farming, as well buried our forefathers in those sub villages for decades, and our houses are still presently in the area, we, plead Ebonyi State Government to send a delegate to pay locus at the area.
"Sir, the sub-villages are:-
1. Ugbonaa
2. Obodoma
3. Ukwuokwe and
"Ohainya respectively, and these ugly scenario happened on the 5th day of June, 2025. The Map referred to in No. 4 recommendation in the white paper was not made available to aid the demarcation process and we are not comfortable with the demarcation exercise hence Ishinkwo Community have been terribly prejudiced since 17th day of February, 2025 to date.
"Your Excellency Sir, the concept of following a terrain, according to the boundary demarcation committee is an excuse and decoy calculated to truncate the official gazette white paper in favor of Abaomege Community. The terrain as describe in the white paper is very explicit and precisely directed to commence from Amudo, boundary between Ebonyl Central and Ebonyi South and to terminate at Ebonyi River Head Bridge at Akpuoha, about 16km along the area.
"Sir, in view of the aforesaid, we most humbly crave the indulgence of your Excellency to pray as follows:-
"That the white paper should be properly implemented and the five swamp lands captured in the white paper, viz:
1. Igborkor
2. Idumayo
3.Eguichara
4. Obayi and
5. Ngene Obenwa/Okobo be shared accordingly
"That while we plead that the correct thing should be done on the remaining portions to be demarcated the areas already covered should be amended to bring it into agreement with content of the white paper.
"That all the lands which never formed part of the disputed lands which are brought in for demarcation as highlighted in paragraph 14 of this open letter be left alone. This is the height of the injustice being foisted on our people (ISHINKWO COMMUNITY) in the ongoing exercise.
"That Ishinkwo Community is ready to accept the result of the demarcation process if it truly reflects what is contained in the official gazette white paper and otherwise.
"Your Excellency Sir, it is based on the above and in order to avoid further or re-occurrence of crises, that we write this open letter to you sir, knowing full well that you care for the masses and will therefore call these boundary demarcation implementation committee to order to do the right thing Immediately.
"In conclusion, we the good people of Ishinkwo Community knows that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State means well for Ishinkwo Community and Ebonyians and therefore will do everything possible to make peace and life bearable for the people of Ishinkwo and Abaomege Communities.
"While we await your Excellency's reaction to our openl to extend our esteemed consideration and loyalty at all posto Excellency, the executive Governor of Ebonyl State Hon Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru."
Respectfully Submitted Sir.
Chief Anthony Obaji (Ndufu village head)
Chief Innocent Igwe Okah (Onoko Village Head)
Chief Emmanuel Ugota (Ugwuekuma village Head)
Chief Ikechukwu Damian (Effium Village Head)
Elder Linus Nwite (Amebor Kindred)
Elder Edeh Abeja (Ome-Alegu Kindred)
Elder Innocent Igwe Okpoko (Stakeholder)
Hon. Silas Igwilo (ICDU Secretary General)
Signed
Chief Douglas Ogodo (Elugwu Village Heat)
Chief Titus Nwadibia (Ugwuokwe Village Head
Chief Gabriel Onwe (Ndieguazu Village Heed
Elder Nwali Nkwo (Nikewa Kindred)
Elder Igwe Nwagu (Obura Kindred)
Chief Fidelis Edeh (Stakeholder)
Hon. Ndubuisi Awoh (Youth President)
Comrade Itumo Joseph Nwaliebu (ICDU) President General
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