By Ushang Ewa
The Cross River State House of Assembly has set up a special committee consisting of traditional rulers to immediately interface and make recommendations for sustainable solutions to the recent communal wars in Abi.
The committee is to be headed by the Obol Lopon of Ugep, Obol Ofem Ubana who has been at the forefront in the calls to resettle the Ebijakara community after it was sacked by its Ebom neighbors over a decade ago in a communal war.
The House also authorised the implementation of the 2002 white paper report, 2013 Gazette and the 2013 implementation plan over the conflict ravaging the Bahumuno nation which comprises the Ediba, Usumutong and Ebom communities which went at war last week.
These, among others were the resolutions of the House during an emergency sitting earlier this week and followed a motion moved by the leader of the House, Honorable Moses Ucheche (PDP, Obanliku) on behalf of the Speaker who is the member representing the Abi State constituency.
And, the House in a statement to CrossRiverWatch, resolved that: “The House of Assembly through its committee of the whole should immediately and urgently invite and interface with leaders and elites of all the Bahumuno communities by way of a public hearing.
“The committee of the whole should invite other experts, opinion leaders and interested persons to join the interface and thereafter produce a report on how best to end the current crisis.
“The house of Assembly also mandated the Obol Lopon of Ugep as chairman to preside over a special committee of traditional rulers alongside the paramount rulers of Biase, Obubra and Ikom.
“The special committee herein is authorized to interface and engage with the traditional rulers of each of the Bahumuno communities and proffer solutions within the institution on how best to resolve the conflict scenario.
“His Excellency, Senator Ben Ayade, the Governor of Cross River States is authorised by the resolution of the house to immediately put in place modalities to implement the pending government white paper reports and Gazette of 2002, 2005 and the 2013 implementation plan, already presented to government in the communities involved in the current crisis.
“The State is further mandated to deplore extra security personnel in each of the Bahumuno community to avoid further attacks.
“The state emergency management agency and the ministry of health are mandated to immediately provide relief materials and medical intervention in the area to avoid epidemic and starvation caused as a result of the conflict.”
CrossRiverWatch had reported that over one hundred people had sought refuge at the palace of Obol Ubana after an invasion of Usumutong which led to the destruction of properties with reports pegging the number of houses torched at 10 so far.
Obol Ubana had last week Sunday told host of ‘The Dialogue With Agba Jalingo’ on Hit FM, Jonathan Ugbal that he fed and sheltered throughout internally displaced persons in his palace for two days and has continued sending food items to them since they were scared of going to their farms.