The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Southeast has expressed deep concern and worry by the reported renewed hostilities between the people of Ikwo and Izzi in Ebonyi State.
The Party in a statement issued by the National Vice Chairman Southeast Zone, Chief Ali Odefa in Abakaliki said they are concerned because Ebonyi State has suffered the most devastatingly unwarranted bloodletting in the last few years.
He said: “From the Crises in the Ngbo Agila axis, Cross River/Ebonyi boundary, Herdsmen massacres and now Izzi/Ikwo crises, we definitely cannot continue like this”.
“Already, Nigeria is facing serious existential crises occasioned by the failure of Federal Government to rein in terrorists, bandits and insurgents that have combined to unleash terror on hapless Nigerian citizens, the people of Ebonyi State cannot turn the gun on themselves and expect anyone to take them seriously or be clapping for them”.
The Party urged the people in Izzi and Ikwo clans of Ebonyi State to pursue peace rather than allow themselves to become objects of pity amongst the people of the state.
“Ebonyi State is a blessing and a land flowing with milk and honey- but these can only be harvested in an atmosphere of peace and harmony”.
“We call on the leaders of the two brotherly clans to immediately rally together and put a stop to the needless altercation that has led to the unfortunate loss of lives and destruction of hard-earned property in the area”.
The PDP further called on the government of Ebonyi State to as a matter of urgency eschew politics and squarely work on engendering peace amongst the Izzi and Ikwo clans as well as among all the citizen and residents of the state.