The traditional Ruling Council, a highest decision making body in Ehugbo, Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has banned negative posts on social media against the community by some indigenes of the area.
Some youths of the area have been on the social media for weeks, calling out political leaders of the community over the over 10 years lack of electricity in the community which heightened political tension in the area ahead of the 2027 general election.
The traditional ruling council which viewed the actions of the youths as dragging the image of Ehugbo to the mud, banned all forms of negative posts on the social media against the community and imposed a N100,000 fine against defaulters per negative post to end months of negative spotlight on the social media in the ancient city.
In a well attended meeting in Ogo Okpoota, the sacred meeting place in the community at the weekend involving all the age grades from all communities in Ehugbo, the Traditional Rulling Council alleged that some paid agents in the community have infiltrated social media and engaged in negative and slurred campaigns to tarnish the image of government to derail important projects that are being executed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Francis Ogbonnaya Nwifuru the state Governor in Afikpo.
Chief Moses Erusi who spoke on behalf of Esaa Traditional Rulling Council, declared that any offender that drags the image of Afikpo to the mud on either Facebook or any social media platforms will pay a fine of N100, 000 on every negative comment that tarnish the reputation of the community.
Chief Patrick Oti Owom who also spoke on behalf of the Horii Age Grade in community, reiterated the sanctity of Ehugbo tradition and emphasized that anyone that falls foul of the law would be held to pay the imposed fine.
He said that unity was an important factor in development and urged the people to unite instead of castigating their sons and daughters in positions of authority.
He said that the Council was not trespassing on the fundamental rights of its citizens to freedom of speech but hinted that such freedom should not be abused as every right has limits.
Speaking on behalf of the Isi Elia Age Grade, the Okabue, Chief Obila Ode, noted that such attacks, often coached as if it was the decision of the entire Afikpo, was putting Afikpo in bad light.
He reminded those writing negative posts on the social media that Afikpo has a traditional method of settling disputes and urged anybody that feels aggrieved to bring the matter to the traditional council for arbitration.
On the issue of marriage, the Council equally observed that some greedy Pastors were now going to their in-laws to accept dowries and other traditional rites and performing the ceremonies in their houses without letting the villagers and other relatives to know.
They berated them for flouting the traditional institution and warned that such behavior would no longer be tolerated, adding that anybody caught would face the wrath of the law of the land.
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