By Gabriel Okonkwo
Relatively a stranger in Ebe community, Udi local government area of Enugu state, Nigeria but a curious observer of issues and events in the community located South-West of Enugu Capital territory.
First, we have to know and believe that we have no other town to call ours other than Ebe. We have to understand that we are one, brothers and sisters.
We have to hold our town with jealousy. We have to make our town a place to be proud of. A town of seven villages is big and at the same time small compared to other towns. I say it every time, physically we want to live together. That is why you enter some families and find a cluster of houses with little or no free space. However, our hearts are not as close together as we are physically. Our hearts are millions of miles apart.
Go into various families, kindred and villages, there is no love, no peace. Everything is about hatred, quarrels, enmity, unhealthy competition, inordinate desires to be first among equals, selfishness, backbiting back stabbing.
When you come into Ebe as a town, these things are multiplied many times over. What is wrong with us? Who has deceived us? Have we suddenly forgotten that a house divided against itself can never stand?
As we are now, we cannot, as a house, face any emergency situation successfully. We are busy fighting ourselves forgetting that as Nigeria is today, Ebe is facing insecurity problems. We are not ready now for any emergency attacks. We are vulnerable.
Ebe, let us put our house in order. Let us forget, for now, any personal interests. Let us, for now, forget interpersonal grievances. Our concern now should be on security plans for Ebe based on present day situation in Nigeria. We have heard about what is happening in Enugu State recently. It is very close to us. The insecurity situation in Enugu State and how to secure Ebe should be our priority and not some things that don’t actually matter, even if they matter; can be handled fraternally.
How do we push our town up to meet up with developmental leaps as found in other towns? Ebe has no good roads, power supply to Ebe is nothing to write home about. It is getting to one month now that Ebe has no power supply. Sometimes it can be worse than this. Water cannot flow without power. Yet we are not bothered. The things that bother us are things that have nothing to add meaningfully to our lives as individuals and to Ebe and as a community.
The number of court cases in Ebe is so shameful. Ebe is keeping judges and lawyers in Enugu judiciary busy. The amount of money they make from Ebe is alarming. We have to be ashamed that Ebe has become a common name in Enugu State courts. Why? Because we are pursuing useless ends. Things that can easily be resolved is pushed out to court. These are things that can easily be forgiven and forgotten because Ndi Igbo sị na iwe nwanne anaghị elu na ọkpụkpụ
Those in diaspora, I call on you to come into these issues. You may think you are outside but whatever happens affects you. Every situation in Ebe is waiting for you. Any time you come home, you meet it You should remember that you have families back home. You should remember that Ebe is where you have 100% rights and not any other place. Remember that when there is peace in Ebe, it is for your good. But if Ebe is in crisis, you have no home town to call your own. Rise up to the challenge now and work towards the good of Ebe.
Ebe should set up a peace committee different from and independent of Ebe Assembly to look into issues concerning Ebe starting from village level to things concerning Ebe as a town. Ebe is blessed with great men and women. We should not allow these blessings to be wasted or turned into curses.
It is becoming too lengthy writing. Let me stop here.
BUT REMEMBER, LET US NOT KEEP OURSELVES BUSY FIGHTING ONE ANOTHER AND ENEMY WILL TAKE US BY SURPRISE AND DESTROY US. Enugu State is not secured and Ebe is not different. Recently, there have been many kidnappings in Ebe. Perhaps, who knows, they are testing the waters for something worse. The sooner we rise up, the better for us.
There are many unwanted visitors in our town. Don’t think they don’t observe these things. They know we are not together and this is a serious security issue. They can inform those who sent them about the disunity and consequently, the level of insecurity in our town for possible attacks. I’m not trying to frighten anyone but this is a reality.
God bless Ebe and all those who work for peace in Ebe. Let those who are causing trouble either in the villages or Ebe town repent. It is for the good of all of us.
Remember, I’m not for anyone. I’m for peace, justice and unity as a missionary in Ebe.
Rev. Fr. Gabriel Okonkwo CSSp. Parish Priest, St John’s Catholic Church, Ebe.
