Chijoke Ezugwu: The Messiah Uzo-Uwani Has Long Awaited

 Chijoke Ezugwu: The Messiah Uzo-Uwani Has Long Awaited

For years, the people of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area have cried for justice and hoped for a saviour to deliver them from their plight. Their lands have been ravaged by the violent incursions of Fulani herdsmen. Once peaceful farmers, their youths have been slaughtered like chickens in their own farmlands. Women and daughters have been brutally raped and killed without a shred of justice to comfort grieving families. Their flourishing farmlands, full of cash crops, have been destroyed, with hectares of land turned into feeding grounds for cattle, forcing the people into economic despair.

The situation has driven many communities to the brink of hopelessness, with numerous families forced to pay hefty ransoms to kidnappers just to buy their loved ones’ freedom. Uzo-Uwani, a once-bustling haven blessed with rich soil and natural beauty that drew settlers from nearby areas like Enugu-Ezike, Ede-Oballa, and Aku, now lies eerily silent. Places like the once-vibrant Opanda town have been deserted, with people fleeing for safety, leaving behind ghost towns in what used to be centres of agriculture and opportunity.

The greatest fear of any Uzo-Uwani indigene is the uncertainty of survival. No one knows if they will be the next victim of the deadly herdsmen. The daily prayer of the average man in Uzo-Uwani is for divine intervention, for a messiah to rescue them from the grip of terror. They prayed, and for a long time, it seemed their pleas fell on deaf ears. Yet, unknown to them, salvation was in the making, preparing the way for a deliverer to rise from among them.

That man is Barrister Chijoke Ezugwu. A man politically oppressed but spiritually anointed as the saviour the people of Uzo-Uwani have long sought. His emergence in the political arena recently comes as an answer to the cries of his people. Recently, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates and Enugu State Governor, Barrister Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, recognised Chijoke as a top security expert capable of restoring peace and order to Uzo-Uwani by giving him the mandate to represent the party in the forthcoming local government election. His victory as the PDP candidate for the upcoming local government elections scheduled for September 21st has brought new hope to the land.

Chijoke Ezugwu is no stranger in the security field. Having served as a security adviser for Nsukka Local Government and Enugu East, his expertise and track record in addressing insecurity speak volumes. Now, as fate would have it, his homeland, Uzo-Uwani, has called on him to restore the dignity and safety of the people. His nomination is not just a political move; it’s a homecoming for a man who has proven his worth and is now entrusted with the safety of his own people.

In his numerous speeches, Chijoke has expressed his steady commitment to defending the oppressed and securing Uzo-Uwani. As a brave and fearless leader, he never stays silent in the face of injustice. His character can be likened to the bold words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” Chijoke is not one to remain neutral when his people are oppressed; he stands firm against injustice, no matter the cost.

With his victory in the PDP primaries, the people of Uzo-Uwani have found renewed hope. The messiah they prayed for has come, and their faith in a brighter, safer future has been restored.

Oscar Ayogu writes from Abbi