By Christopher Odamah, Abraka
The Hon. member representing Ethiope East Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Evance Ochuko Ivwurie has raised an alarm over threat to his life and that of his constituency, and the several attempts to use various security agencies to muzzle and hound him, promising not to deter No amount of harassment, intimidation and embarrassment can stop me from obeying and respecting the primary reason for my election into government as enshrined in Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 constitution as amended -the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. This is the solemn duty I owe to the wonderful and amiable people of Ethiope East.
Recently, a petition was written by a group styled; My Body, My Rights and Charity Initiative to the Minister of Interior, Abuja and National Security Adviser titled; Death Proclamation and Genocide, accusing two (2) Lawmakers in the Delta State House of Assembly.
The petition accused Hon. Evance Ivwurie and the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Comrade Friday Osanebi of the proclamation of death and genocide against Fulani Herdsmen in Ethiope East and Ndokwa East State Constituencies. The Minister of Interior then requested the National Security Adviser and the Inspector General of Police to investigate the two lawmakers, following which the IGP directed the Commissioner of Police Delta State to oblige the request of the Minister.
The Northern based rights group in a letter, dated May 2, 2017, addressed to the Minister of Interior, stated that the alleged proclamation by the two lawmakers has caused the death of many defenseless, helpless, innocent and peaceful Fulani people in the cloths of herdsmen by selfish and warmongers. The letter which was signed by one Bala Muktar Muhammad on behalf of the Kaduna based group and made available to Vanguard, reads in part: Our source gathered that many (Fulani/Hausa indigenes) are trapped and killed with the accord of both the Deputy Speaker representing Ndokwa East and the Evance Ivwurie.
The mass killings and genocide is still going on and many a times, it happens with the connivance with those that suppose to provide protection to these people.
On the allegation that a helicopter was seen dropping weapons and supplies in the areas, the group said: Osanebi and Ivwuries claims led to a total patrol of the forest for days by a joint military, DSS and police operatives but nothing incriminating was found on any peaceful Fulani leaving within the bush and no imaginary helicopter was found. This is because it was a planned genocide.
The lawmakers are now impeding justice and their unsubstantial genocide claims have led to the proclamation issued by the people of the said local government areas as they have continued to motivate young Igbos and militants to kill any visible Fulani/Hausa man and woman, young and old that passes their gaze.
“…Messers Osenebi and Ivwurie should be immediately arrested by the claws of the law and equally prosecuted for issuing wrong and concocted information to the authorities.
Upon invitation by the Police, Hon. Evance Ivwurie then made it abundantly and categorically clear to the Police that I am a law abiding Nigerian citizen and have respect for Section 33. (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended which states that Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria. Hon. Ivwurie added The threat I am currently going through is because of my decision to champion and stand the gap for the people of my Constituency who are daily killed, raped, maimed and attacked by suspected Fulani Herdsmen in the our farmland in Ovre r Abraka/Eku and Igun as result of which I wrote to the President, Vice-President and Inspector General of Police to investigate the killings, raping, kidnapping, robbery and all sort of nefarious activities carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
I was elected to protect my people. I respect the sanctity of life and believe nobody including myself has the right to take the life of another person as alleged by this group (My Body, My Rights and Charity Initiative) against me that I made a proclamation of death and genocide against Fulani herdsmen.
In his words, I am a peace-loving Nigerian and a believer in due process. I could not have made any death proclamation or genocide against Fulani herdsmen or any other tribes in Nigeria. Also as a representative in the State House of Assembly I am not aware of any single Fulani herdsmen that have been killed or any retaliation of Fulani Herdsmen in Abraka, Eku, Igun or anywhere in Ethiope East for that matter.
While saying that the allegation is spurious, baseless and fictitious. It is extremely inimical to our national security and its security architecture. These allegations are weirdly concocted against two extremely detribalize, responsible and peace loving Lawmakers of the Delta State House of Assembly who are committed to delivering the dividend of democracy to their various constituencies.
Hon. Ivwurie said I bear total allegiance to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I cannot take law into my hands. If I want to take the law into my hands, I will not write to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to come and help us as suspected Fulani herdsmen are killing my constituents. I will not write to the Vice President or the Inspector General of Police to seek their intervention. So I dont know where this body is coming from with these trumped up, unsubstantiated and without-evidence allegations.
According to Hon. Ivwurie, Let me used this medium to tell the world that this GROUP and others are bringing this petition because of my continuous Advocacy for the protection of my constituents that are been daily slaughtered, killed by the suspected Fulani herdsmen and also to say, I do not hate Hausa-Fulani people or Muslims. I respect Hausa Fulani people and it is impossible for me to the hate Hausa Fulani people who account for about 29% of our nation population and comprise of some of the most hard working, disciplined and resourceful Nigerians. I have respect for their religion, culture, tradition and tribe. I have problem with the criminal elements of the suspect Fulani herdsmen who also kill Muslims, Hausa Fulani people and Northerners”.
In the last two (2) years, Hon. Ivwurie said suspected Fulani herdsmen have killed nine (9) of his constituents, calling on the Federal Government to investigate the culprits, bring the perpetrators to justice and compensate the victim families.
Meanwhile, Hon. Evance Ivwurie has expressed the profound gratitude of Ethiope East people to the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN, for setting up and sending the 7-man investigative panel to Ethiope East Local Government to investigate the criminal activities of the armed AK-47 wielding suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In conclusion, Hon. Ivwurie shouted Psalm 20:7 says ‘Some trust in chariot, and some in horses; but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
