By Samuel Ogude
Crisis neither does an individual nor society any good. It only leads to blood bath which may result into loss of lives and property. This accounts for why, before any crisis erupts in whatever way, it is good create a path way for it not start at all. And should it start, it should be resolved immediately before it leads to loss of lives and property.
The crisis between Aladja Community in Udu local government and Ogbe-Ijoh Community in Warri South West both of Delta State as a result of land dispute which began some time ago seems not to end, though, the Delta State government led by Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has claimed that the dispute has been settled.
This claim of settlement was rebuffed recently by a group under the auspices of Aladja People’s Movement For Peace. The group which its Co-ordinator is Comrade Simon Sibitor and the Secretary, Comrade Ejovwo Tietie posited that the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has played into the hands of Ijaw nation since Aladja and Ogbe-ijoh crisis as Ogbe-ijoh people have been clamouring for the acquisition of land in dispute by the government.
The group said they can not fold their arms and allow the Delta State government led by Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to cede their God- given land which is in dispute to Ogbe-ijoh people saying, they would fight with all legal means available to retain their land.
They said , the position of Aladja people has always been that the government as a matter of necessity should first, tell the world who actually owns the land. The group said the Delta State government earlier led Dr Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan and that of the immediate past Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa never yielded to the demands of Ogbe-ijoh people by acquiring the land by force as both Governors know that the disputed land does not belong to Ogbe-ijoh hence they did not agree to the demands. of the Ogbe-ijoh people.
The group said:”The Government of Dr Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan did not agree to the demands of the Ogbe-ijoh of acquiring the land by force neither the government of Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa did same”
They said the government of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has not even deemed it necessary to visit the disputed area before thinking of agreeing to the demands of Ogbe-ijoh people by ceding land. The group said the land in dispute belongs to Aladja people just as they said if the government wants to acquire the land by force, it must be prepared to kill everybody in Aladja Community.
“If Ogbe-ijoh people could not take the land from them(Aladja people) through the barrel of guns, why is the Secretary to the state government, Dr Kingsley Emu wants to cede the land to Ogbe-ijoh people?” They queried.
The group said, there was no denying the fact there was a meeting conveyed by SSG who represented the state government to discuss a way forward between Aladja and Ogbe-ijoh people but the representatives of Aladja Community were shocked to see that there was already a prepared resolution by Dr Kingsley Emu, the SSG, for the people of both communities to sign using Minority report of Ogbe-ijoh in Professor Abedinigo Ikoku’s Panel instead of a Majority report that was adopted by the then government of Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.
The group said, from the attitude of the SSG, Dr Kingsley Emu, it has become obvious that Dr Kingsley Emu has compromised and doing the biddings of his pay masters. The group therefore said Aladja People said “No” to the acquisition of their land by the government or in whatever guise.
It is advised that the Delta State government should not fold its arms and pretend that the land dispute between Aladja Community and Ogbe-ijoh has been settled, it should go back to the drawing board to see that both communities accept terms of settlement to pave way for total peace in Delta State because it would not be in the interest of the Deltans for both communities to witness another round of crisis.