By Francis Sadhere
THE Chairman of Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation (EGCDF), Chief Michael Johnny has blamed the Delta State Government over the crisis between Aladja in Udu Local Government Area of the state and Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South West Local Government Area.
Speaking to our Correspondent on the renewed hostilities between the two neighbouring communities, the EGCDF Chairman expressed disappointment that the State Government was yet to find a lasting solution to the age long boundary dispute between the two communities.
According to him, when he was a member of the State Waterways Security Committee, he raised alarm on the urgent need for the administration of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to settle the dispute between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities and lamented that nothing was done by the immediate past administration over the matter.
He claimed that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has not made efforts to also settle the matter since he came on board.
“I want to blame the Delta State Government for failing up till now to settle the boundary dispute between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities over the years. I raised alarm over the matter during the tenure of former Governor Uduaghan, but he failed to resolve the matter and since Governor Okowa came on board, this is about the third time, the people of the two communities are clashing and he has not shown a deep concern over the worrisome matter and this is why I’m blaming the government for its inability to settle the matter once and for all,” he said.
He added that; “Government should show concern to the lives of the common people who are being killed and not their wealth. Let Government take a bold step to end the crisis between the two communities and I am also blaming leaders of the two communities for allowing the crisis to linger on.”
The EGCDF boss implored youths of the two communities not to kill themselves, saying they must drop their weapons now and allow peace to reign.
In his words; “Our youths in Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities must drop their weapons and give peace a chance. We are brothers and sisters. I must say that I am disappointed at the both sides who are involved in the crisis. I am not taking side, all I want is for peace to reign in the two communities and I am condemning what has just played out itself again in the two communities.”
Chief Johnny commended the soldiers drafted to the affected areas for bringing the bloody situation under control and also lauded the roles played by the Warri Area Commander of Police, ACP Muazu Mohammed.
But he called for more troops to be deployed to the troubled communities just as he urged the Delta State and Federal Governments to find a permanent solution to the crisis in the two communities.
