The Plight Of Ezza People In Emene -enugu

For over three weeks, the Ezza people of Emene, Enugu, have faced heartbreaking displacement after their homes were demolished. The destruction followed a court order instigated by Prof. Bath Nnaji, who laid claim to the land the Ezzas had peacefully inhabited for years. Despite this grave injustice, the silence from Ezza unions and their leadership has been deafening, leaving the community to suffer in isolation.

This silence might not be entirely disconnected from the political dynamics surrounding the Ezza people. Earlier, a white paper issued during the Effium crisis controversially labeled the Ezzas as mere tenants on lands they had occupied for generations—not as adventurers, but as a peaceful, settled community. An Ezza appointee in the Ebonyi government endorsed this white paper, further deepening tensions within the community. It took the intervention of the Governor to discard the document and set up a new framework for balanced justice, regardless of the sycophantic support this appointee and his allies gave to the flawed report. The appointee even penned a news commentary defending the discarded white paper, a move that sparked outrage within Ezza circles.

This internal disunity may explain why the current plight of the Ezzas in Emene has been met with such silence. Could the complicity and cacophony of some within their own ranks be contributing to the neglect they now face? It seems plausible that the same forces that sought to diminish the Ezza people's rights in the Effium crisis are also at play in the lack of response to their displacement in Emene.

The displacement of the Ezzas in Emene is not just about a legal dispute—it is a continuation of a broader struggle for recognition and dignity. Without a unified response from their leaders, the Ezza people remain vulnerable to injustice. The Governor's earlier intervention in Effium set a precedent for fair treatment; now, a similar intervention is needed to protect the rights of the Ezzas in Enugu.

The time has come for Ezza unions and leadership to break their silence and stand up for their people, advocating for the justice and protection they deserve. Without this, the Ezza people risk becoming perpetual victims of political and social marginalization, and their peaceful existence may continue to be jeopardized by forces both external and internal.