Worried by the rising spate of intolerance among political gladiators and violence among cultists in Abonnema, the headquarter of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, His Majesty, King (Barr) Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel (ii), KSC, Owukori (ix), in collaboration with major stakeholders in the community have moved to end the scourge.
At a Stakeholders Peace and Security Summit/Dinner which held last Wednesday, at the Atlantic Hall of Hotel Presidential, organized by the Abonnema Council of Chiefs in conjunction with the Nyemoni Improvement Society(NIS), the stakeholders drawn from the Abonnema Council of Chiefs, the leadership of the two leading political parties in the Akulga (All Progressives Congress,APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,), leaders of various associations in Abonnema, the clergy and security personnel, all identified the root causes of the violence and were unanimous in their resolve to curb the menace.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the summit, the leaders directed any cult group still in Abonnema should immediately leave the community or face sanctions.
The summit condemned and prohibited the use of lorry loads of armed soldiers by highly placed individuals, chiefs and politicians in the community during political and social functions to harass, intimidate and shoot indigenes and residents and consequently banned the hosting of more than one political rallies and events on the same day.
Furthermore, the summit resolved that a monitoring team, made up of credible apolitical individuals who are indigenes of the community be set up, to check and report to the Council of Chiefs and Federal Security Personnel (Police, DSS and JTF), persons and groups who violate the peace accord.
Earlier, reading an address signed by the Four Major Group of War Canoe Chieftaincy in Abonnema, the Amanyanabo, His Majesty, King (Barr) Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel (ii), KSC, Owukori (ix), noted that the summit was not intended at digging up the past or apportioning blames at any person or group, but aimed at achieving peaceful mutual coexistence, such that was bequeathed by their predecessors.
The Abonnema Council of Chiefs condemned the rising incidences of violence, harassment and gun duel by cultists during political and social activities in the community, stressing that the good people of Nyemoni abhor violence, cultism and brigandage witnessed in recent times.
The apex traditional authority in Abonnema, while noting that they encourage sons and daughters of the community to be actively involved in partisan politics for the good of the community, however maintained that such participation in politics must be done in a peaceful manner.
Speaking at the event, the gubernatorial candidate of the APC in Rivers State, Arc. Tonye Cole, expressed concerns that Abonnema Community as a pivot and leading light in Kalabari land could not afford to fail, because if it did, the entire Kalabari Kingdom would equally fail.
He commended the Amanyanabo of Abonnema and members of his Council for showing true leadership by taking bold steps in finding lasting solutions to the menace, noting that the choice before every indigene of the community was to either cherish and protect their heritage and root or to conspire and destroy it because of politics.
On his part, leader of the PDP in Akulga and former minister of sports, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, thanked the Abonnema Council of Chiefs for the laudable peace initiative, pledging to always support any move aimed at maintaining peace.
Tammy Danagogo who lamented that Abonnema had never been known for political violence, declared that no effort would be spared at nipping the unfortunate development in the bud, maintaining that election is not war but a contest of ideas.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Abonnema, Sylvester Ebosele, who also spoke at the stakeholders’ Peace Summit, described the move as timely and a practical demonstration of community policing where issues relating to security would be identified and major stakeholders would sit and discuss on how to address those security issues.
The DPO informed political parties in the area to always write to inform and invite the police to all political gatherings and activities at least 24 hours before time in order to have security presence in such functions.
The star-studded event attracted dignitaries including the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, His Majesty, King(Barr.) Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel(ii), Owukori (ix), Paramount Head of Oruwari (Briggs) Group of Houses; Chief G.N.Anabraba, Paramount Head of Otaji (Georgewill) Group of Houses; Chief Ambie Georgewill, and Acting Head of Iju (Jack) Group of Houses and former Supreme Court Judge: Chief Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte.
Others were: Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Arc. Tonye Cole, Engr. Bekinbo Dagogo Jack, Hon. Major Jack, Chief Tubotamuno Dabiri, NIS President, Dr. Tennyson Ajieh and NIS Secretary, Limejuiceba Bobmanuel.
Others include: The Executive Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Hon. Rowland Sekibo, former Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Hon Theodore Georgewill, Barr. Otonye Briggs, Stanley Benebo, and former President of N.I.S and President of Nyemoni Awo Club of Abonnema, Barr. Obaye Ekine
Also in attendance were Chiefs and members of the Abonnema Council of Chiefs, President of the Lutheran Congregation of Nigeria, Most Rev. Dr. Nimi John Fyneface, security agents, representatives of clubs and associations, the media among others.
