That we may enjoy that peace in Ebonyi

This was exactly what happened a few weeks ago when a Senior Special Assistant to the President, allegedly confronted, overwhelmed and prevented  policemen at Abakiliki, Ebonyi State from enforcing an order of the State Government, banning motor cyclists also known as Okada riders from plying the highways and major streets in the capital city at […]

This was exactly what happened a few weeks ago when a Senior Special Assistant to the President, allegedly confronted, overwhelmed and prevented  policemen at Abakiliki, Ebonyi State from enforcing an order of the State Government, banning motor cyclists also known as Okada riders from plying the highways and major streets in the capital city at odd hours.

The Governor of the State,  Chief Martin Elechi took the incident seriously. He petitioned President Umaru Musa Yar’adua and piled a heap of allegations of subversion and security breaches against the President’s Senior Special Assistant, Chief  Polycarp Nwite, an  indigene of the state. But the SSA in question denied the allegations. He said he could not have descended so low to address Okada riders.  

 Chief  Nwite is said to have denied the allegation even in the midst of overwhelming evidence against him ,plus the fact that the incident was witnessed by Police Officers on duty. But  to ask, as a public figure, how would Nwite feel  when the same Okada riders he addressed on the issue hear him denying the incident ?

In his submission,   Governor ,Elechi  was quoted as saying, “On Saturday, 22nd August, 2009 Okada riders who had complied substantially with this order suddenly surged into the dual roads of Abakaliki. This was sequel to the order  by Chief  Nwite who described my government as` illegal`. The Commissioner of police who witnessed the episode told me that his men were overpowered.”

It was commendable that the governor opted to report the matter to Mr. President rather than turn the state into a political battle ground. 2011 is still  far. Nwite is a son of Ebonyi and so, we urge Governor Elechi to still leave his doors open for reconciliation. Ebonyi is too precious for us thus we must not allow violence to have a slight chance.

Beyond the on-going face-off  between the two political actors however, we have realised that the political disagreement between them dates back to 2007 ,when Nwite lost to Elechi in the PDP governorship primaries in the state. Nwite was compelled by some obvious circumstance to step down as a contender for the  seat . Feelers are still indicating that Nwite has not  forgiven Elechi politically  for defeating him. Elechi tried to carry  Nwite along in all state affairs. Yet, Nwite’s major problem appears to be that of politics with bitterness, arising from his peculiar perception of elections as` battles` and politics as `warfare`.

And now that 2011 is near, the man appears to signal his renewed ambition with public demonstration of hostility,  Yet, Elechi’s response to Nwite’s invitation of  violence in the state was to admonish the opposition to follow due process and the rule of law. For this purpose, Elechi  has once again offers Nwite the only olive branch remaining, which is peace. “Accept it and play your politics in a way you will not injure the innocent citizens .” We  want peace in Ebonyi.

Mackay, a civil engineer, wrote in from 2nd Avenue, Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja.