By Samuel Ogude & Ejiro Nesisa
The news of Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh Communities renewed crisis have become daily occurrence. One hardly turns the pages of newspapers , online media and tune radios or televisions without reading or catching a view of the attacks and counter attacks by both communities. In fact, many people are more interested to listen or read the disasters recorded-how many people died and, or property destroyed- due to the attack by both parties while to others, they are bored with the news because they are not happy to hear or see their brothers or sisters that have been affected in the crisis. While the crisis sounds like a child’s play, lives and property are wasted each time there are attacks and counter attacks and for those who are not affected, may not know what the affected are passing through.
This crisis has generated comments from many who know what both communities are going through and put in their pieces of advice. Speaking to Bailout Magazine, the Lead pastor, Family House International Church, Warri, Pastor Emmanuel Osiegbu said, both communities are engaging in a fruitless fight as their fore- fathers who had and lived in the land 500 years ago, if they could leave the land, what is the essence of their fighting over the land same land they would finally die and leave behind?. According to him, come to think of it, they (both communities) are inter-married therefore, he sees no need for their fighting over nature.
According to him, instead of thinking about how to bring development to their various communities, they are busy fighting saying, fighting each other will further destroy what they have on ground.
He said:” What is the level of development in both communities? Why fighting to further destroy infrastructural facilities which are not even enough to have life worth living?.”
The Cleric therefore called on both communities to bury their hatchet and think of a way to improve on their lots instead of fighting endlessly for nature which can never take them anywhere.
In this renewed hostilities, both parties, especially the Aladja have called on the government to resolve this land dispute once and for all. While it is gathered that the Delta State Government has intervened in the past, it is believed that the government has not done enough, otherwise, the matter would have been put to rest finally. It should not be forgotten in hurry that the communities in questions are one as they are inter-married and have been living peacefully together for years, why this sudden disagreement over land issue which they unable to settle?
Yes, the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, in his warning to both communities, said, no amount of land is worth dying for, because, after they have fought and died, the land would neither change it location or status. While many hailed the warning of the Governor, many said, the warning would not solve or put the dispute to rest but the government should put machinery in motion to see that the problem is solved once and for all.
On this, the Chairman, the Committee For the Defence Of Human Rights( CDHR) Delta State branch, Comrade Jonathan Giama, said, one of the ways to have a permanent solution to this reoccurring crisis by the communities is for the state government to make law in Delta State House of Assembly and come with a modality to put the dispute to an end with the warning to both communities that who is seen to first attack would be treated as armed robber .
According to him, it is believed that there are people fueling this crisis for their selfish gains, saying when such is discovered, such person or group of persons should be punished accordingly.
His words:” The State Government should make law in the Delta State House of Assembly to see that the land dispute is resolved once and for all and anybody who flouts the decision reached and first to attack, should be treated as murders or armed robbers”.
Many others who spoke to Bailout Magazine are of the opinion that both communities Traditional Rulers should have a meeting to fashion ways to resolve the endless crisis instead of waiting endlessly for the government of the day to take decision for them.
One of them said:” The Traditional Rulers should not fold their hands to watch their subjects die in each of the attacks, they should convey emergency meeting and call their subjects to order while permanent solution is sought for the dispute.”
Deltans therefore advised both communities to end the crisis and seek permanent solution(s) so that they can live in peace not pieces to save lives and property.