BY AUSTIN OYIBODE
Executive Assistant to Delta State Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Rev. Godspower Agbuduta has called on Isoko communities to be at peace with each other as peace is needed for development to thrive.
Rev. Agbuduta made the call after a visit round Emede and Igbide, two communities in Isoko South which were recently embroiled in crisis over boundary dispute.
Agbuduta told our reporter that though the crisis was uncalled for and unnecessary, the reports he gathered from his visit to the two communities revealed that peace is returning to the two communities.
He said series of peace meetings are being held between leaders of the two communities and Isoko nation with the presence of former President General of Isoko Development Union (IDU), High Chief Idu Amadhe and Gen. Paul Ufuoma Omu.
He said that he visited the President General of Emede, Engr. Ben Okah- Avae and leaders of Igbide community, noting that the leaders of Igbide community are going about the community announcing to everyone to sheath their swords and give peace a chance.
“I paid a visit to Igbide. I met with some of the community leaders who told me that before the youths went on rampage they were already holding meetings. It was the next day things went out of hand. It was shocking to both communities.
“From what I saw when I visited Emede, peace had returned. I interacted with some of the youths and told them there is no gain in fighting. The land belongs to God. So, for now the place is peaceful,” Agbuduta said.
He said for uninterrupted peace to come on board, the state government needed to step in and examine the fundamentals of what is actually the cause of the crisis.
He said Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is man who does not want crisis, noting that even when there is crisis, the governor would seek for ways to nip it in the bud and prevent from escalating.
He said that the government could intervene in the form of setting up panel of inquiry as done in the case of Ozoro and Oleh so as to unravel the root cause of the matter and settle it amicably.
“Every issue in the crisis need to be analysed, making sure the crisis does not rise again. The communities involved should tell government the truth and a verdict is given. The government will then make pronouncement and say this is how it should be. This area should belong to this community and the other side to the other community.
“There should be a demarcation. Every country has a demarcation, every state and local government have demarcation. That should be the final solution and it should be once and for all,” Agbuduta said.
He poured encomium on the President General of IDU, High Chief Idu Amadhe, saying the PG has been a man of peace and has pursued peace since he emerged PG of the Isoko socio-cultural organisation.
He said Chief Amadhe has mediated and solved many community crisis in Isoko land, adding that as his tenure is expiring he did his best for Isoko nation.
He said one of the chiefs in Igbide community, High Chief Mike Usige; Major General Paul Ufuoma Omu, the PG of Emede.and all Isoko leaders are working assiduously to ensure peace prevails in Isoko land.
