Gov Okowa
By Jon Egie
The Okowa led PDP government of Delta State has been challenged to pull up sleeves and stop recurring cases of inter communal crises in the State.
Publicity Secretary of APC in Delta, Mr Sylvester Imonina Esq gave the challenge in a press releases issued today.
In the release, the APC urged Governor Okowa to be proactive in handling peace threatening issues that affect communities in the State.
He scored the Special Adviser to the governor on peace and conflict resolution, Chief Edwin Azum, low in his performance at securing peace among feuding communitiies in the State.
He said had all the State government appointees, at least one from each local council in the State been paying little attention to issues that threaten the peace of their home communitiies act proactively acted as bridge builders, most of the skirmishes between various feuding communitiies could have been averted. Rather, they chose to be merchants of war and fan the embers of discord.
The APC called on Governor Okowa to use the force of law to deal with anybody who causes a breach of peace in the State not minding whose ox is gored.
“There is a popular saying that threat to peace anywhere is a threat to peace everywhere. It is on the above premise that the All Progressives Congress (APC) Delta State condemns in totality the rise in inter-communal crises in the State.
Some days ago, there was communal clash between Ogwashi-Uku and Otulu Communities in Aniocha South Local Government Area (LGA) of the State, which resulted in the unfortunate killing of one Cletus Okpala-Ozumba, an indigene of Otulu. Also, not too long ago, there was bloody crisis between Emede and Igbide Communities in Isoko South LGA which resulted in loss of lives, and property worth millions of Naira!
The bad memories of Aladja and Ogbe-Ijaw Communities’ crisis of not too long ago lingers on! Till date, the number of lives lost in that crisis is yet to be ascertained. Meanwhile, so many people whose landed properties were destroyed are still eating the bread of sorrow.
“From available information, most of these crises are not unconnected with unclear lands boundaries between neighbouring Communities.
“Some of these crises were/are avoidable but the lackadaisical attitude and non-proactiveness of Okowa led-government of Delta State when issues are in a budding stage, could rightly be said to be responsible for the carnage experienced in recent times and years in some parts of the State.
“Delta APC is not unaware of the fact that there is no Community in the State where the Okowa led-government does not have a political office holder. These appointees who are supposed to be peace builders and build bridges between their people and the State Government care less about issues that threaten peace. Some of them are known merchants of war whose stock in trade is fanning embers of discord.
The APC calls on Governor Okowa to use the force of law to deal with anybody who causes a breach of the peace in the State not minding whose ox is gored.
“It is very painful that the Senior Special Adviser to the State Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor, has not done enough in peace building. His office has failed in sensitizing the people on the evil of inter-communal crises or any form of crisis in the State through broadcast and print media and/ or social media. The only modus operandi of that office is embarking on wild goose chase after unquantifiable damages have been done.
“In most cases, certain crises that could have been nipped in the bud were/are allowed to fester because of political interest. Some political demagogues who find themselves on a part of Community divides are allowed to misbehave, while the helpless citizens suffer.
“Delta APC challenges Okowa led-Government to up its game in averting inter-communal crises or any form of crises in the State.
“People who find themselves on the wrong side of the law should be taught a lesson they will never forget, irrespective of whose ox is gored.
Lives and properties should not be wasted on the altar of political and or any form of affiliations.
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