The Executive Council of Urhobo Traditional Rulers (Ukokor’Ivie r’Urhobo) and the executive of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) worldwide have called on Delta State Government to set up an Independent Truth Commission to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the crisis between Okuama in Ughelli South local Government Area and Okoloba in Bomadi local Government Area of Delta State
This was contained in a seven point communique signed by the Chairman of the Urhobo Traditional Rulers council (Ukoko r’ Ivie r’Urhobo )HRM (Dr) Emmanuel E.Sideso ,Abe I,JP OON, the ovie of Uvwie kingdom and the President General of Urhobo Progress Union worldwide, Chief Ese Gam Owe
During a joint meeting of both Executive councils at the palace of the Uvwie Monarch, Effurun Uvwie local government Area of Delta State .
The groups urged the Delta State Government to provide a permanent solution to the crisis that affected the killing of Seventeen (17) Military Personnel and the razing down of Okuama Community by Soldiers on revenge mission .
The communique Reads,
“COMMUNIQUE” ISSUED AT THE END OF A JOINT MEETING BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (EXCO) OF UKOKO R’IVIE R’ URHOBO (COUNCIL OF URHOBO TRADITIONAL RULERS) AND EXCO OF URHOBO PROGRESS UNION (WORLDWIDE) ON 19TH MARCH, 2024 AT THE PALACE OF OVIE OF UVWIE KINGDOM.
The Executive Councils (EXCO) of Ukokor Ivier Urhobo (Council of Urhobo Traditional Rulers) under the Chairmanship of HRM (Dr.) Emmanuel E. Sideso, Abe 1, JP, OON, Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom and Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) under the Presidency of Chief Ese Gam Owe with Chief Ejiro Ughwujabo, the President of UPU in United Kingdom present met to deliberate on the recent purported crisis between Okuama Community of Ughelli South LGA and Okoloba Community of Bomadi LGA and the subsequent killing of Seventeen (17) Military Personnel and the razing down of Okuama Community by Soldiers on revenge mission resolved as follows:
(i) That the Urhobo nation is highly pained by the unfortunate but avoidable bloodshed and the razing down of Okuama Community in Ughelli South LGA over the weekend particularly the killing of the seventeen Officers/Soldiers of the Nigerian Army and the reprisal mission of the Nigerian Army occasioning arson, killing of innocent/ vulnerable women and children of Okuama Community.
(ii) That we commiserate with the families of the dead officers/soldiers who were killed in the avoidable/unfortunate incident.
(iii) We also commiserate with the families of the innocent and vulnerable people of Okuama Community who have been rendered homeless, killed and/or displaced through the revenge mission of the Nigerian Army.
(iv) We call on all parties to the impasse to sheathe their swords. Two wrongs cannot make a right. Killings and counter-killings and/or arson is not and never a solution. All parties must give peace a chance.
(v) We call on the Government of Delta State to set up an Independent Truth Commission to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the Okuama/Okoloba crisis and/or causes of the frequent disagreements between the Urhobo and Ijaw Communities/neighbours on the Forcados Rivers of Delta State for a permanent solution.
(vi) We call on the President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR to prevail on the Nigerian Army to honour a round-table discussion that may be inaugurated by the Delta State Government to avoid future occurrence.
(vii) We call on our Ijaw Traditional Rulers to join hands with us,
their colleagues, Urhobo Traditional Rulers to work for sustainable peace on the Forcados Rivers particularly between the aged-long neighbours of Urhobo and ljaw Communities to achieve sustainable peace in the area.
CONCLUSION
We wish to state that the Urhobo people are peace loving people who have been living in peace with their Ijaw neighbours from time immemorial. They remain committed to sustaining the peace, despite the unfortunate incident of the recent past.
HRM (Dr.) Emmanuel E. Sideso, Abe 1, JP, OON,
Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom Chairman Ukoko r’ Ivier Urhobo
Chief Ese Gam Owe
President-General
Urhobo Progress Union (UPU)
