By Nelson Utip
The lingering land dispute between The Ogbeh- Ijoh and Aladja communities of Delta State has been resolved, the dispute has claimed many lives and properties while it lasted until The Oboreivwori administration settled it recently by acquiring the land under dispute.
Dr Kingsley Emu, The SSG announced this during an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting on the Aladja-Ogbe-Ijoh boundary dispute held in his office.
Giving a history of the conflict, Dr. Emu said that past administrations of the state, Military and Civilian had tried without success in settling the dispute, various panels of inquiries such as the Justice Azinge Inquiry of 1996, Justice Nwulu Inquiry of 2009, and Professor Ekoko’s Panel of 2016 had been set up to no avail.
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This is in addition to a private initiative by some eminent Deltans to find solution to the crises, which was led by Chief Edwin Ekpoko which did not achieve the desired result.
The SSG said that the immediate past administration of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa also tried to meditate in the dispute through the Office of the Special Adviser on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, which had officials of the Ministries of Lands and Survey, Justice, representatives of both communities and chairmen of the councils at that time.
They were able to demarcate the boundaries between the two communities from Warri River up to Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja road which was partially satisfactory to both parties.
According to Dr. Emu after further consultation, the team worked with the speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly to re-align the line of division for the particular segment that was still in dispute and the present administration, disturbed by the continued stalemate on the dispute has through the Ministry of Youth Development in conjunction with the office of the Secretary to the State Government, the Special Adviser to the Governor on peace and Conflict Resolutions and the Ministry of Justice brokered a dialogue between the youth leaders and other stakeholders of both communities who presented 12 representatives each.
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The SSG attested to the fact that far-reaching resolutions have been taken at the two-day consultative meeting which culminated into the communities told to go home and consult widely before coming with unanimous decisions and recommendations the will be acceptable by both parties before reverting to the government.
The outcome of the wide consultation was the enlarged stakeholders meeting as the administration of Governor Oboreivwori is bent on a peaceful environment for development and progress.
This according to the government will be the last mediative effort to free the arear for development.
The state government has resolved that the boundary line already established by the Special Adviser on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution and his team that leads from Warri River up to Major General Dumeje’s Canal is to be taken over by the government and this will be gazetted soon.
The representative of the Pere of Ogbe-ijoh Kingdom in Warri South West, High Chief Anthony Jolomo, and two others commended the state government for it effort at solving the dispute, they called for a speedy implementation of the resolutions as delay was the bane of the previous peace efforts.
In his remarks, the representative of the traditional ruler of Udu Kingdom, Chief Otto Ogbiruruets, along with Chief Paulson Obiebi who represent Aladja Community in Udu Council Area of the State, were full gratitude for the instant meeting, seeing it as the first sign of very positive action from government to end the dispute, they however observed that sincerity should be upheld by both sides for the goal of peace to be achieved.
The Obuzor of Ibuzor, His Royal Majesty, Obi, Prof Louis Nwoboshi of Ibusa Kingdom who represented the Chairman of Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, in a goodwill message re- echoed the need for peaceful co-existence of communities in the state, calling on Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Communities to sustain the peace brokered between them by the state government.
In attendance in the meeting were, The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ekemejero Ohwovoriole (SAN), The Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr Agbateyiniro Weyinmi, The Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Chief Vincent Oyibode, Special Adviser on Peace building and Conflict resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor, Principal Secretary to the Governor, Mrs Lyna Ochulor.
The meeting also had in attendance The Director General Security, Hon David Tonwe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development, Ms Ngozi Mgbolu, representative of the Director, Department of State Services (DSS), representative of the Commissioner of Police and the representative of the Commanding Officer, Amphibious Battalion, Warri, amongst others.
