Women of Amaeze community in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday, demanding an end to alleged external interference in the community’s leadership and quarry operations.
The protesters, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “We want peace in our community” and “Non-indigenes should allow our leaders to work for their people,” reaffirmed their loyalty to the Ogbonna Nwaeni-led Amaeze Development Union.
According to the women, influential individuals outside the community are attempting to frustrate Amaeze’s decision to partner with Zotman Nigeria Limited as its preferred quarry operator at the Mboro Ajaenyim quarry site.
Spokespersons for the group said the interference was distracting the Nwaeni-led leadership and warned that if unchecked, it could snowball into a major crisis.
One of the protest leaders, Mrs. Lydia Anyim, explained that the women were compelled to march in order to safeguard the peace and stability of the community.
“Our people have chosen Zotman Nigeria Limited over Hephziba and Beulah. Unfortunately, some outsiders want to impose their own choice on us. We cannot allow this to lead to another crisis in Amaeze,” Anyim said.
She stressed that the demonstration was purely voluntary and aimed at discouraging any attempt to destabilize the community.
All we want is peace. If violence erupts, it is our children and husbands who will suffer the consequences. That is why we decided to rise as women and demand peace in Amaeze,” she added.
The women further appealed to the leadership of the Ishiagu Community Development Union (ICDU) to step in and douse the rising tension. They also called on Amaeze sons and daughters, both at home and abroad, to rally behind the Nwaeni-led executive in order to preserve peace and unity.
In his reaction, Mr. Ogbonna Nwaeni, President of the Amaeze Development Union, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the right to peaceful protest is guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution.
“It is within their rights to raise their voices against undue interference, as long as they remain peaceful and law-abiding,” Nwaeni said.
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