Peace is commonly regarded as a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. Socially speaking, peace connotes lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or communities. Throughout history leaders have used peacemaking and diplomacy to establish a certain type of behavioral restraint that has resulted in the establishment of societal peace and economic growth through various forms of agreements or peace treaties. Such behavioral restraint has often resulted in the reduction of conflicts, greater economic interactivity, and consequently substantial prosperity. History is replete with varying degrees of both individual and communal conflicts which have retarded economic growth, social harmony and tranquillity. Some of these conflicts have defied all known human and leadership interventions. A common thread which runs through all these conflicts bothers on land, property and personal interests and the unwillingness of the parties concerned to let go of whatever interests, electing instead to war and destroy resources both human and material of humongous proportions.
The pervasive nature of Indigene-Settler conflicts in many Nigerian cities and
communities has been a source of worry to many Nigerians. The negative implication of this on our socio-economic and political development cannot be over-emphasized-Felix C. Asogwa etal(52 South East Journal of Political Science Vol.3 No.1, 2017).
From available data, the Oruku crisis started on 25th of December 1990 following the recognition of the late Igwe C. A. Nomeh by the Enugu state government and the avowal by the Umuode kindred to resist the recognition. Successive governments ever since have waded into the matter with a view to finding a lasting solution to the problem. It is regrettable therefore that despite the efforts of the past governments, the problem as it were has remained intractable. This has further resulted in loss of lives and property including the fatal shooting of the traditional ruler of the community, late Igwe Emmanuel Chidiebele Mba while he was addressing a town hall meeting in December 2020 by suspected assassins.
The peace loving Governor of Enugu state has once again demonstrated his avowal to make the entire Enugu a haven of peace by promptly drafting a high powered commission of enquiry to look into the remote and immediate circumstances of the communal conflict and make recommendations thereof. While all men of goodwill applaud this prompt move by Mr. Fulfilment to de-escalate further crisis, it is important to stress and appeal to the commission headed by the revered Justice Harold Eya to write their name on gold by taking the task before them seriously and justify the confidence reposed on them by the government of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The Commission need to be reminded as I’m sure that they know that several past efforts in this regard have yielded little fruits otherwise the crisis would have abated. This Committee should note that if the underlying factors which threaten the peace in Oruku and environs in the first place are not holistically addressed, tensions risk continuing to simmer, even if progress is made. Worthy of note too is that peace remains a veritable tool in the promotion and sustainability of good governance.
It is in the light of the above that the administration of Governor Ugwuanyi must be commended for his commitment to the peace of Ndi Enugu and should be supported by all to make this an enduring legacy. The warring community should therefore be open minded and commit to the peace of the area as charged them by the peace loving Governor. If they refused to let go of their grievances, peace would continue to elude them, may God forbid that.
After all this and the Committee have turned in their report, may God grant Governor Ugwuanyi the deserved wisdom to proffer the desired solution to the intractable crisis in Oruku and end it once and for all generations.
Enugu State will firmly remain in the hands of God.
Austin Okechukwu Chijioke is a PR Practitioner and a member – Enugu di n’aka Chukwu movement, writes in from Abuja FCT.
