Aladja Vs Ogbe-Ijoh Clash: UPU Calls On Warring Communities To Exercise Restraint

By Daniel Dafe

The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), has called on warring factions involved in the Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh crisis to exercise restraint and sheath their swords to give way for peace.

The President General of, Chief Engr. Joe Orode Omene JP, recently presided over an extended meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC).
The group released a press statement that said: “UPU NEC regrets and condemns the resumptions of fatal hostilities between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijaw neighbouring communities.

“Our condolences go to individuals and families who have lost loved ones to the renewed violence. We call on parties, their supporters and sponsors to exercise utmost restraint and cease further hostile behaviour and remember the many years of mutual friendship they have had from time immemorial.”

They continued: “NEC calls on the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to sum up the political will to implement the pending reports of the committees set up in the past to handle the issue.

“The government of Delta State cannot continue to play the ostrich by warehousing the reports of past efforts which may contain the solutions. We cannot continue to reinvent the wheel over this seemingly intractable communal crisis.

“The state governor must diffuse the suspicion and rumour making the rounds that the delay or refusal to be decisive is a strategy to promote the crisis or because the outcome of such implementation will be unfavourable to his political allies.”