By Emeka Iwuala
I sat on my reading desk thinking about Imo State…, thinking how the state was before the emergence of the Rescue Mission Government. There are so many great things to write about the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the rescue mission government.
There are also great things to write about the deputy governor of the state, Prince Eze Madumere, especially his unflinching support and humility to his boss and the Rescue Mission Government. But I decided to settle and write on this unique achievement of the Rescue Mission Government – PEACE–, and its impact in the state. As cardinal Otaviani will put it “Today nearly everyone can read, but only few can think.”
Peace which is the greatest gift of Jesus Christ to his disciples could be described as a state of mind with no form of violence or conflict which entails understanding and total stability of mindset. A peaceful environment is conducive for human inhabitance and development. According to World Bank indices of development, peace ranks first among others in economics development. A nation without peace is in pieces. No wonder the last stanza of the Nigeria national anthem ended with peace and unity. The Holy Bible also holds peace in high esteem when it pronounced that “blessed are the peace markers for they shall be called children of God.
Before the emergence of the Rescue Mission Government, Imo State was raveled with all sorts of conflicts, several communities were engulfed in one communal squabble or the other. Killings, arson and others were the order of the day. Previous administrations were not able to resolve such disputes as Ezeship tussle, land and boundary disputes ostracism and youth restiveness among others conflict oriented factors, but left them in the hands of the police and the law court to handle. Then, the state was a source of worry to Owelle Rochas Okorocha, hence in November 2011 on assuming office as the Executive Governor of Imo State established the Bureau for peace and conflict resolution and appointed Engr. Peter Ohagwa as the Special Adviser on peace and conflict resolution.
The Bureau was charged with the responsibility to go round the state, identify the immediate and remote causes of the incessant communal crisis, try, mediate and resolve them amicably. Interestingly, the bureau has resolved over 300 communal crisis ranging from Ezeship tussle, land and boundary dispute, embezzlement, ostracism to youth restiveness among others.
Ninon de Lenclos in one of his series wrote “Much more genius is needed to make peace than to command armies’’, Prince Eze Madumere has demonstrated so much ingenuity in settling deputes among warning parties in the state. No wonder he is christened apostle of peace who could spare no cost to achieving it. In the oil producing communities of Imo State, his name stands out as a peace maker, who never negotiated away interest of the people for any reason. Irete community will never forget in a hurry how Prince Madumere rekindled the good relationship that existed between them and coca-cola bottling company. Today, the company and indeed the world see him as a hero of justice.
The deputy governor as an advocate of peace has tremendously supported the Rescue Mission Government in ensuring peace in Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere enthroned peace in Orsu-Obodo Community in Oguta LGA, when he brokered a peace accord between them and ADDAX Oil. Other areas are Awarra Community with Walter Smith Oil exploration, SHELL and its host communities among others. The recent is in Akokwa in Ideato North where if not the timely intervention of this great man of peace, war would have broken out between the Hausas and the indigenes in the area . The deputy governor through his humility and ingenuity parried the matter and restored peace to both sides. The community has continued to thank him for his advice and intervention.
Like a wildfire, the name Prince Eze Madumere has spread to all the nooks and crannies of the state via-Nation as an advocate of peace, the state governor who never seizes to appreciate good things has directed the Bureau for Peace and Conflict Resolution to be directly under Madumere’s supervision. Since this added work load, Prince Eze Madumere has not ceased to live upto expectations. Protests by militants, pro-Biafra groups, and attack by Fulani herds-men have not blown out of proposition as it is witnessed in some states in the south-East and South-South.
The great writer, Chinua Achebe of blessed memory said in things fall apart “the chick that will grow to a cock is known immediately the egg is hatched.” Prince Eze Madumere, for those of us who have known him for a long time understand his readiness, taste for peace and love. This is buttressed by his comment in an interview with journalists during the celebration of his 52nd birthday at Red Cross Society Owerri, “I want peace in Nigeria. I want Nigeria where Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and other ethnic groups will leave as one”.
It is obvious that truth cannot be hidden. Imo is a save haven. No wonder national and international conferences are held in the state on a weekly basis.
All thanks to the Rescue Mission Government and its team. My thanks specially go to the deputy governor, Prince Eze Madumere for his support for peace initiatives. The Rescue Mission Government must not be deterred in its good work, despite criticisms from the opposition. However ,we must change our mindset and begin to think of what we can do in our little capacities, to think as one and do our best to make Imo State work better in the interest of all.
*Emeka Iwuala, an Owerri based Journalist can be reached