A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Godwill Obielum has donated relief materials worth millions of naira to be distributed among indigenes of the seven Itsekiri communities in Delta state, who were recently displaced as a result of an attack on their communities.
Chief Obielum who presented the relief materials at the weekend observed that what happened was a sad development and commiserated with the families of those killed during the crisis and urged government at all levels to assist the victims.
According to Chief Obielum, “we must be our brother’s keepers because this is a very sad situation that urgently requires that our brothers and sisters who were displaced are assisted for them not to continue suffering’.”
“Government at all levels, and corporate organizations should assist them because, we are in a Delta where an injury to one is an injury to all,” Chief Obielum said, adding, “our people should not resort to violence on issues that can be resolved peacefully through dialogue or through political representatives.”
Chief Obielum who was represented by the Tiemeyewe of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Sam Eyengho who was accompanied by members of Proper Inheritance Political Associates (PIPA) urged all Nigerians to always engage in actions which would strengthen our democratic values by working towards peace, reiterating, “democracy is all about representative government, so, we should not engage in any action which would not encourage peaceful co-existence, because peace is very important for democracy to thrive.”
The former Police boss, urged those who were affected by the crisis not to engage in action which will further escalate the situation as every lover of democracy identifies with their plights and appropriate measures would be taken by government to reduce their plight.
Receiving the relief materials which include bags of beans, rice, garri, cartons of tomatoes, groundnut oil, palm oil, mosquito nets, among others, Mr David Edu who is the Chairman, Caretaker Committee for Warri North Local Government Council thanked Chief Obielum for coming to the aids of those affected by the crisis and assured that the relief materials would go a long way to assist those who were affected.
He observed that Chief Obielum’s gesture was unique, noting that when flood ravaged some communities in Delta State last year, it was on record how Chief Obielum promptly rendered assistance to ensure that those affected by the flood were properly assisted.
“Please, thank Chief Obielum for us, we appreciate what he is doing for people who are suffering in Delta State, we pray that God will continue to reward him for his service to mankind,” the transition committee chairman remarked.
Hon. Sony Jaye, who led those the relief materials were meant for thanked Chief Obielum for coming to their aid.
Blank NEWS Online can report that Chief Obielum has however risen to the challenge of not leaving the task of assuaging the predicaments of the affected people to government alone, by rising to the occasion to assist and complement the state government’s efforts in this regard.
Recall that the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan had on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 during a peace and security stakeholders meeting in Warri with security commanders and leaders of ljaw and ltsekiri communities in Warri North Local Government disclosed of the state government’s preparedness to rehabilitate and send relief materials to the victims of the affected communities after a thorough assessment of the area would have been carried out.
The governor had also commended Chief Edwin Clark who intervened to calm the situation and Itsekiri youths for not retaliating during the unfortunate and condemnable crisis, where attackers allegedly from the Ijaw ethnic nationality, destroyed several itsekiri communities including Gbokoda, Obaghoro and Ebrohimi, even as a leader of the ljaw community, Chief Emmanuel Ebimami and the leaders of itsekiri community, Mr. Micheal Diden, Chief Ayiri Emami and Mr. Ezekiel Akpasibowa claimed that the violence was perpetrated crude oil thieves.
