The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Dr Ben Odoh, has expressed the readiness of the state government to restore peace to all warring communities in Ebonyi State.
Odoh stated this on Wednesday at the Old Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Abakaliki, during a sensitization meeting with the stakeholders of Ishinkwo Community of Onicha Local Government Area of the state.
The meeting was convened to pave the way for the signing of a peace pact to end the over one hundred and eleven, 111, age-long land dispute between Abaomege and Ishinkwo Communities.
The Attorney General, who is also the Chairman of the Government White Paper Implementation Committee on the Abaomege and Ishinkwo conflict, assured that the committee will implement to the later, all recommendations contained in the already gazetted White Paper to ensure total restoration of peace in the troubled communities.
He urged the traditional rulers, leaders and stakeholders to be on the same page with the government to achieve a lasting peace in the area.
According to him, the essence of the meeting was to prepare the minds of the community ahead of the peace pact signing, on Friday, noting that the committee had earlier met with Abaomege people on the same issue.
“This committee is an implementation committee of a white paper on the Abaomege / Ishinkwor crisis.
“Just as the name implies, we are not an alternative dispute resolution committee, we are not a fact-finding committee, we are not an appeal court or quasi committee, we are an implementation committee.
“I am holding onto certainty with a passionate conviction that this crisis between the good people of Abaomege and Ishinkwor that has lasted for 111 years will come to an end”, he stated.
The traditional ruler of Ishinkwor community, HRH Jehoshaphat Nnanna commended the state government for its efforts in resolving the age-long crisis.
He assured that the community would give all the necessary support to the government to find a permanent solution to the crisis.
Recall that the Abaomege boundary dispute which has lasted for one hundred and eleven years, 111, yrs had left scores dead and unquantifiable property destroyed.
Ebonyi govt wade into Abaomege, Ishinkwor 111 years land dispute war