A House of Representatives candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency, Hon. Chief Kevin Tobias Chukwu, has called for urgent and collective action to end killings and insecurity in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Chukwu made the call during an engagement with the leadership and members of the Ikwo Union in Abuja, where he said the people of Ikwo could no longer continue to live in fear after years of killings and violence in the area.
He recalled the gruesome killing of Ogiji from Achara, who was reportedly killed and beheaded, with his head later dumped on the main road.
He also cited the recent killing of his Eze-in-Council, HRH Chief Francis Igwe, father of the immediate past Deputy Governor, who was kidnapped and subsequently killed.
According to him, the recurring incidents of violence had created an atmosphere of fear that must urgently be addressed.
“We cannot continue this way. Ikwo people cannot continue living in fear. Our people must be liberated from fear and be able to live freely in their communities without constantly being afraid of what may happen to them,” he said.
Chukwu argued that Ikwo must move beyond violence and embrace responsible and civilised leadership.
“This is 2026, not the 18th century when barbarism trailed society. Ikwo must move with the civilised world. We must grow beyond these things and begin to produce responsible and civilised leadership that will take our people forward,” he said.
The NDC candidate also spoke about his philosophy of leadership, saying public office should ultimately be measured by the impact left behind and not by the claims of politicians.
He referred to a discussion on the Ikwo Development WhatsApp platform earlier that day concerning the performance of former chairmen of Ikwo Local Government Area.
According to him, Barrister Celestine Igberi Nweme of Amagu Ikwo, who served as chairman during the administration of former Governor Martin Elechi, was described by members of the platform as the best chairman the council had produced in terms of human and infrastructural development.
Chukwu said what particularly struck him was that no member of the platform challenged the assessment when Nweme’s name was mentioned, unlike what happened when other names were discussed.
He said the discussion reflected the kind of legacy he would want to leave if given the opportunity to serve.
“I don’t want to leave office and be the one telling people that I performed. I want the people themselves, based on what they saw and experienced, to be the ones saying that I served them well,” he said.
He described such recognition as the “actual and truthful democracy” the people deserved — a system where citizens could see, experience and testify to the impact of public service even after an office holder had left office.
The Chairman of the Ikwo Union, Mr Emenike Ukwa, also spoke about Chukwu’s history of engagement with the community.
Ukwa asked those present whether there was anyone who did not know Chukwu’s father, Chief Tobias Chukwu, before recalling their university days.
He said Chukwu was already distinguished at the time and recalled that he drove his own car to school.
More significantly, Ukwa recounted an encounter with Chukwu at the National Assembly several years ago.
According to him, Chukwu visited his office under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and said he wanted to see the Clerk of the Office of the SDG.
Ukwa said he later discovered that Chukwu was not seeking personal assistance but was pursuing federal projects for his community and working to have the projects captured in the year’s Appropriation Bill.
He subsequently questioned what Chukwu could accomplish for the people if he was able to pursue community projects without occupying an elected position.
The recollection by the Union chairman highlighted Chukwu’s efforts to attract development to his community before his current political ambition.
The Patron of the Union, Barrister Francis Iyeji of Enyibichiri, also welcomed Chukwu’s engagement with the organisation.
Iyeji said Chukwu was the first person from Ikwo seeking elective office to recognise and engage the Union in such a manner.
He noted that politicians from other areas, including Ezza, had previously engaged the Union, but said politicians from Ikwo who had contested elections had not done so in the same manner.
He said the Union would support whoever its members considered upright, sincere and prepared to work for the people.
The Secretary of the Union, Suppol Nwode Ferdinand, supported the Patron’s position and also acknowledged Chukwu’s engagement with the body.
Nwode called for a departure from what he described as bad governance, saying that as the 2027 elections approach, members of the Union would return to their respective communities and support the candidate they genuinely believed was best for the people.
He further pointed out that the influence of Union members extended beyond the organisation, as they maintained family and community ties across Ikwo.
On the security situation, Ukwa strongly condemned the killings and expressed concern about the impact of such incidents on the reputation of Ikwo people.
He said the Union would look seriously into the matter and explore ways of engaging elders and other relevant stakeholders towards finding a lasting solution to the violence.
Ukwa questioned how people outside Ikwo would continue to perceive the community when reports of killings and violence persisted.
He maintained that the killings must stop and that collective action was necessary to restore peace, protect residents and preserve the image and dignity of Ikwo people.
