-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Michael EKOKORUWE:
The President General of Isoko Development Union, High Chief Iduh Amadhe, has called on the people of Oleh and Ozoro to remain calm as the Union will not take sides, neither biased in communities’ crisis, saying the union has been for peace and will always tow the part of peace, as the umbrella body of Isoko ethnic nationality.
Amadhe made the statement at the weekend during a stakeholders meeting of Isoko people, held at the National Secretariat of Isoko Development Union Oleh, Isoko South local government area of Delta State.
Amadhe stated that the land dispute between Oleh and Ozoro communities was reported to I.D.U in April 2016 by Engr. Clifford Anakpoha, former Present General of Ozoro Kingdom and now Vice President General of Isoko Development Union.
He said, on 27th of April 2016, the executive of Isoko Development Union appointed peace committee to ensure amicable resolution of the crisis in both communities over the land dispute area.
According to Amadhe, the report by the Land Dispute Resolution Committee was presented to I.D.U and was subsequently rejected by Ozoro leaders through a letter on September 2017.
The President General noted that tension and serious threat to life was reported by Sir Raph Afemare just as traditional oath taking was done on the 15th of June 2018 by the two communities in the presence of government officials and the executives of Isoko Development Union.
He maintained that the state government through the office of Peace Building and Conflict Resolution took over the settlement of the crisis on July 2018, even as the two councils were represented in all conveyed meetings. Amadhe added that a reminder to government for quick resolution to the crisis was sent by early 2019.
He appealed to the state government and the two council chairmen to resolve the crisis as Oleh and Ozoro are headquarters of the two local government areas, noting that students from other ethnic nationalities and all the clan indigenes, resided in the two communities.
Amadhe stated that “It will be madness for Ozoro and Oleh to go into war because of the proximity and effects of war, just as he appealed to Isoko political leaders and traditional rulers to ensure peace reign in both communities and entire Isoko nation.
He however cautioned that the propagation of falsehood about Isoko Development Union must be discourage, stressing that the Apex body of Isoko Nation cannot encourage crisis in any community.
Amadhe appealed to Oleh people to remain calm over the loss of the 12 indigenes of the community, as the state government, the council chairmen and security agents are on top of the situation to unravel the perpetrators and resolve the crisis amicably for final peace to reign.
In attendance was Hon. Kenneth Ogba, member Delta State House of Assembly, Isoko South constituency 1, Major General Paul Omu (Rtd), Professor Abednego Ekoko, traditional rulers, clergymen, Presidents General from Isoko South and North, executive members of Isoko Development Union and a cross section of women and youths from various Isoko communities.
