News

FIDA advocates women inclusion in peace building in Plateau

Published

4 years ago

October 7, 2022

vicky

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Plateau State, has advocated for the inclusion of women in the Ta-hoss community in Riyom Local Government Area of the state in conflict resolution and peacebuilding for peaceful co-existence in various communities in the areas

Mrs. Obioms Achilefu, the State Chairperson of FIDA, stated this on Thursday 6th October 2022 at the project inception meeting, titled “Promoting the inclusion of women in peacebuilding and conflict mitigation”.

According to her, the project is done in partnership with Foreign Affairs Trade and Development Canada to promote the inclusion of women in peacebuilding in communities ravaged by the crisis in Plateau State.

“This project affirms that women in conflict-ridden communities possess important strategic insights and competency for addressing security challenges affecting them and their communities,” she stated.

“Women are active agents of peace in armed conflict, unfortunately, their role as key players and change agents of peace has been largely unrecognized which is the reason we are demanding for total inclusion.

“Including the gender which is most affected by violent conflict would greatly help in identifying how much of a change it will bring to minimizing violent conflicts in communities,” she said.

She appreciated the Plateau communities for keying into women’s inclusion in peacebuilding processes.

Mrs. Sabina Dachung, a resident of the Ta-hoss community, lamented the increased insecurity in the area stating that the raping of women and girls on farmlands was on the increase.

Dachung called on the government to intensify its efforts towards reducing armed conflicts in the area stating that it has affected their sources of livelihood.

The Chairman of Riyom Local Government Area, Hon Mafeng Gwallson, said that the local government would support the project owing that women played an important role in mitigating conflicts.

Gwallson, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Pam Nyango, said the local government would increase women’s inclusion and ensure that the project was sustained.

Pam said that they would also ensure that the project was expanded to include Fulani women in the mitigation of violent conflicts in local communities.

A resident of the area, Victoria Bitrus who spoke also complaint bitterly over the persistent cases of rape by suspected herdsmen in the community.

She noted that women are raped on the farm by Fulani herdsmen, particularly teenage girls, and solicited help on how to stem the menace.

Rita A Lasoju, Programme Officer, FIDA Nigeria, said that the project seeks to restore trust and confidence among the people and the security agencies to find a common ground for peaceful co-existence.

News

2027: Clan insists governorship seat remains in Ebonyi North

Published

41 minutes ago

June 25, 2026

Preport

A socio-cultural organization in Ebonyi State, Ezza Ezekuna Development Association, EEDA, has declared that the governorship seat in the state must remain in Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone till the 2031 general election, for justice, fairness, equity and political stability.

EEDA dismissed the recent communique issued by a group describing itself as the Umuekumenyi Leaders’ Council, in support of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Ifeanychukwuma Odii, from the Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone.

It declared that the Umuekumenyi Leaders’ Council has no legal existence as it is not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, and has no constitutional foundation within the constituent clans of Umuekumenyi.

Briefing newsmen on Thursday in Abakaliki, National President of the association, Chief Kingsley Akam, Secretary, Comrade Uchechukwu Edeh, and a member of the association, Professor Chike Emmanuel Onwe, said EEDA aligns itself with the established zoning arrangement governing political succession in the state.

It insisted that Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone must be allowed to complete its own two tenures of the governorship seat as done by other two senatorial zones in the state.

“The Ezza Ezekuna Development Association believes firmly in justice, fairness, equity and political stability. These are not abstract values to be invoked in ceremony and abandoned in practice.

“They are the operative principles upon which durable inter-communal harmony is built, and they have contributed significantly to the peace and progress enjoyed across Ebonyi State since its creation.

“We align ourselves fully with the established zoning arrangement governing political succession in Ebonyi State, and we do so not as a new or recent conversion but as an expression of a position that the leaders and people of Ezza Ezekuna have previously declared and consistently maintained.

“That position has never changed, and it shall not change. The governorship of Ebonyi State remains, in accordance with the prevailing zoning understanding, in Ebonyi North until 2031. No reasonable Ezza person, properly informed of the history of our state and properly committed to the collective stability of Ebonyi, would oppose this arrangement. Those who do so act neither on behalf of Ezza people nor in the interest of the peace that all our communities depend upon.

“The so-called Umuekumenyi Leaders’ Council has no legal existence. It is not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. It has no constitutional foundation within the traditions or governance structures of any of the constituent clans of Umuekumenyi.

“It is, in plain terms, a contraption — assembled hurriedly and without mandate by individuals pursuing personal political agendas under the cover of a name designed to create the illusion of collective authority. The public, the media and all relevant institutions are advised to treat it as such,” Akam said.