By Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin City
For several weeks still counting,land speculators in Obaretin and
Ubiaza Communities in Ikpoba Okha Local government Area of Edo state have engaged in boundary supremacy whilst persons sustained various degrees of bullet wounds and other indigenes
flay for safety.
It was gathered that the inferno started when the secretary of
Obiaza, Efosa Ogiamien try to usurp the incumbent youth chairman Mr. Edwin over alleged misappropriation of community funds and de-services to community elders and exco members.
This in turn, led to fracas which helped the neighbouring Obaretin
community to advance across their boundary.
When our correspondent spoke with Mr. Edwin, the embattled chairman of Ubiaza Community quipped that the allegations of 20 million embezzlement levied against him has no iota of truth while accusing the neighbouring Obaretin youth chairman for all their woes adding that, the proceeds from the sales of land was
used to develop the community.
He said,”it is very sad that we are fighting each other. Efosa is my
brother.I have done a lot for him.I can’t believe he is the one doing
this to me.they said I stole money but nothing like that. I know is
Osabohien the youth chairman using him against me because we had
boundary issues,”he lamented.
Edwin however enumerated some of the project completed so far in the community to include building of town hall, buying of transformer and the electrification of the community,borehole and so on.
He stated that, he was never suspended as the CDA Chairman by any elders adding that his secretary whom he trusted very
well is the one rebelling against and alleged that this could not
possible if he is not having the backing of Amb. Osabohien, the
Obaretin in chairman whom he claim the duo are good ally.
Edwin further portray his fact by saying the secretary normally leaves in Obaretin Community and has close relationship with the Obaretin Chairman.
Chairman Obaretin Community Amb. Osabohien Osagiede while commenting on the allegations denied that he is the one fueling the crisis currently rocking Ubiaza Community all in Ikpoba-okha Local government Area of Edo State.
It will be that Ubiaza Community, a neighbouring community to Obaretinn Community was recently thrown into crisis of the CDA Secretary of the CDA overthrowing the chairman with his boys and Obaretin Chairman was fingered to have be aiding and abating with the vice chairman of Ubiaza Community whose report has it that they were closed.
Debunking the rumour making round, Chairman Obaretin Community, Amb.Osabohien Osagiede said, there is no iota of true in what they are alleging, adding that he has no hand in their matter and should not be drag into their crisis as he describe them as family matter which he is not part of even as he wish them to settle themselves and count him out of the issue.
He emphasized that he is an ambassador of peace and never wish for
crisis against anybody or community as the case may be.
His words: “for me I don’t have any dispute with Ubiazi Community and I have not been around, I just returned back from my oversea trip where I have gone for peace advocacy within the contest of Africa and beyond. I was told that Ubiaza has a faction that the Secretary is now the Acting Chairman that the elders of Ubiaza has a faction that then secretary is now the Acting Chairman that the elders of Ubiaza Community suspended the Chairman based on financial allegation of embezzlement of about 20 million on land sales and another 30 million which the elders and the people not aware of. So the elders meet and suspended him from office and ask the Secretary to be acting pending when the investigations will be carried out on the matter. So whether they have issues or not is not of my business because Ubiaza is not by community, it is Obaretin that is my community.
The embattle I don’t have business nor personal issues with him,
moreover I am a law abiding bini man who know the customs and
tradition of the land so while will I now cause trouble in another community when my own is peaceful.
Amb.Osabohien emphasised that what is happening in Ubiaza Community is strictly a family issue adding that they are all Ogiemien Family unlike other community in bini where reverse is the case.
Adding,”as a family matter it will be difficult for anyone to intrude
into their affairs. So if they are now saying I am involved then it
means I am now from Ogiemien family which I cannot be possible
because I am from Obaretin Community”, he stated.
Amb.Osabohien Osagiede however maintained that, he has no issues with Ubiaza and Ubiaza Community should not drag his name to the mud.
While alerting the general public to disregard the allegation in its
entity,he reiterate that as a lover of peace and a law abiding bini
man from Edo in particular and Nigeria at large he could not have been involve in a mockery water,”he submitted.
The Odionwere, Pa Alfred Ogiamien of Ubiaza who spoke to Newsmen in bini dialect however said they did not suspend Edwin in any form adding that he is still remains their CDA Chairman and applied that the government should come to their aid with a view of restoring peace to the community adding that they can no longer sleep with two eyes closed,”he pleaded.
As at the time of press, it is not however ascertain of the waving
faction will shield their sword and give peace a change but it is
however believed that what so ever goes up must come down and it is the expectation of the general public and prospective developer that peace return to the Ubiaza Community soonest.
When contacted,the Edo State Police Command public relations officer, DSP Stanley Osifo established that the security agency is on top of the issue as some of the culprit are in their custody.
