…Urges Peace Among Aggrieved Parties
BY ANDREW IKEHI
DETERMINED to nip in the bud the brewing conflict in Owa Kingdom, Ika North-East local government area of Delta State over alleged land grabbing by the traditional ruler of Owa Kingdom, Obi, Dr Emmanuel Efeizomor, the State Government, yesterday, commenced investigative inquiry into the matter.
Leading the inquiry process, the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor, enjoined the aggrieved parties to sheath their sword, assuring that the State Government would get to the root of the matter.
Entertaining evidential testimonies from some of the aggrieved persons; majority of whom are widows, Chief Uzor said that the administration of Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori is irrevocably committed to ensuring that no Deltan is victimized by anyone on the account of his or her financial or social status.
He enjoined the youths in the community to give the State government the benefits of the doubts by remaining peaceful and calm, adding that the State government would speed up investigation into the matter a view to resolving the crisis and come up with peaceful resolution.
Addressing the over 100 persons, all of whom are indigenes of Owa Kingdom, the Governor’s aide said, “we have got enough evidence from you that would help us in our investigation process.
“I want to commend you for your peaceful disposition so far. Meanwhile, we wish to appeal that you continue to maintain the existing peace even as we continue in our investigation”.
Speaking in an interview with journalists shortly after the meeting, leader of the group and Chairman, Owa-Oyibu Development Initiative (Ogha-ni-ihun Oyibu), Hon. Benson Nkeki said that the meeting was an aftermath of the group’s protest on the alleged land grabbing by the traditional ruler of Owa Kingdom, Obi Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor.
Hon Nkeki assured that following the intervention by the State Government vis-a-vis the ongoing investigative inquiry into the allegation, the group is committed to giving the State government the benefits of the doubts.
He said the group had decided to embark on a wide protest against the monarch and the palace over alleged high-handedness, bothering largely on land grabbing and forcefully dispossessing land owners of their lands under false pretense.
He said, “As law abiding citizens, we are prepared to give the State Government the benefit of the doubts. If things are not done the way it should, we will continue with our protest even to the National Assembly level and beyond”. Hon. Nkeki said.
It would be recalled that the group had earlier planned a State wide protest over the matter but soft-pedalled following appeal by the leadership of the State House of Assembly.
