By Egbe Attah
Edumoga National Forum, a socio-cultural union of Edumoga District in Okpokwu Local Government of Benue State, has called on all sons and daughters of the area to work in unity for the growth and development of the land.
The forum, which gave the charge in a communiqué issued at the end of its general meeting held at Ai-Chakwu – Edumoga, recently, warned that there would be no progress in any form when the people are not united and working across purposes.
The communiqué which was jointly signed by Chief Emmanuel Ochechema, the 3rd-Class Chief of Edumoga and Dr Emmanuel Owobi, Chairman Central Working Committee of the meeting, however, promised that the forum would do its best to settle all the differences among the people, while urging them to intensify prayer for God’s intervention in Edumoga affairs.
The forum charged its members to talk to their prominent brothers and sisters abroad to come home to develop their native community, stressing that only such move would address developmental challenges of the area and endear them to the people.
The forum, seized the opportunity to prohibit the cutting down of economic trees, such as locust beans popular known as “Okpehe” in the area, stressing that anyone caught shall pay a fine of N20,000 with two (2) cartons of beer.
The communiqué appealed to the government to establish more Police stations in Edumoga pointing out that the district is too large to have only one police station, even as it congratulated all the newly elected ward and clan heads in Edumoga on their landslide victories during the recent selection of ward and clan heads in the area.
“The forum appreciates the deliberate effort of the 3rd Class Chief of Edumoga, Chief Emmanuel Ochechema on his selfless services, especially his persistent sensitization of the public on matters of public interest.
“The forum however, called on the chief and his council not to rest on its oars but to intensify more efforts to reach every nook and cranny of the land with such enlightenment.
“The forum totally condemned the attitude of convening another meeting for another decision after their general meeting.
“The Edumoga National Forum general meeting will be coming up on the 25th of February, 2023 at Abuja and attendance is compulsory, especially for the ward and clan heads of the area,” the statement added.
The forum applauded all those who attended the meeting, especially traditional rulers in the area and prayed God to restore peace, love and progress to the community.