Boundary Dispute: Aladja, Ogbe-Ijoh Hold Peace Concert

In other to resolve their age long crisis, Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Communities in Udu and Warri South-West Local Government Areas respectively of Delta State on Saturday held a peace concert at the disputed land which has claimed several lives from both communities in the past years.

The said concert was organized by youths from both communities under the auspices of Aladja, Ogbe-Ijoh Peace Vanguard.

The concert which was tagged, “We are one” began with a rally from the NPA Waterside in Warri through Enerhen, Udu, Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Communities before terminating at the disputed land.

In a remark at the event, the Convener of the Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Peace Concert, Rev. Enienghan Thompson Layefa, said he would blame the youths for taking part in the crisis.

While noting that the youths were only defending their fatherlands, the cleric urged the people of both communities to believe and sustain the peace they have achieved.

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“Lets preach peace. Let’s stand for peace. Let’s love one another. There is no gain in crisis. With crisis, development will be far from our land. We need roads. We need lights and others. We need to build houses in the two communities.”

The Local Government Council Chairmen of Udu and Warri South-West, Hon. Kite Brown and Hon. Taye Duke Tuoyo urged the people especially the youths, women and elders of the two communities to ensure that they sustain the peace they have achieved.

Hon. Brown said: “Youths, let this peace be permanent. Elders, let this peace process remain. Maintain the peace and other things will come.”

Hon. Brown thanked the Delta State Governor, Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa for ensuring that the crisis within the communities come to an end.

Hon. Tuoyo aligned himself with the position of his counterparts saying, “I appeal to elders, women, men, boys, girls and youths to maintain the peace. Let your hands be on deck to see that we maintain this peace.”

A representative of the Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Traditional Council, Chief A.O. Jolomi, thanked the elders for embracing the peace talks with their Aladja brothers.

“Let peace be with us and it should be permanent,” he added.

A leader of Aladja Community, Chief C.C. Williki JP, appreciated God for restoring peace to the two communities with a song.

President of Aladja Community Council, Elder Otto Ogbiruveta, urged leaders of the two communities to be sincere if they want the peace to remain with their people.

“We must open our minds, our hearts to this process. We must deepen this peace with sincerity.

“To the youths, enough is enough. Let’s shield our swords. Let’s embrace this peace process.”

The National Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, Chief Sheriff Mulade also urged the people to embrace and sustain the peace.

Former Commissioner for Environment in Delta State, Chief Frank Omare, in a remark, begged the rumor mongers to stop spreading false rumors about the two communities.

He said they (rumor mongers) have destroyed their land.

Chief Omare who recalled that Ogbe-Ijoh community was completely razed down during one of the crisis said the problem is beyond land.

While noting that the Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities contributed to the formation of government of the State, Chief Omare said there is no meaningful project in the two communities.

“We must deliberately encourage ourselves. If loosing a portion of land from the two communities to each other will bring peace, why not? Instead of this senseless killings. It is not it.

“The Armoury you have in Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities, we don’t need them here. Take them to the Army in Bauchi, Katsina in the North to fight Boko Haram, bandits and the rest. Our enemies are promoting the crisis against us.”

Chief Omare also thanked Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa for the peace in both communities.

He further urged the cultists to leave Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities to carry out their nefarious and criminal acts. We don’t want to see you here. Do your cultism outside our land.”

Former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Richard Mofe Damijo, who led other entertainers, Harry Song and Hush Babe from Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities to the event promised to groom young talents from the area.

Earlier in a sermon, Rev. Emmanuel Aleyabor of the Church of God Mission in Ogbe-Ijoh urged the people to embrace peace, saying that without which, there can be no meaningful developments in their land.

Rev. Aleyakpor who doubles as the head of disciplinary committee of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Delta State, offered prophetic prayers for the neighbouring communities.

Our correspondent who monitored the event reports that the efforts of the youths under the auspices of the Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Peace Vanguard should be applauded as they have taken the bull by the horn to ensure peace reigns in their land.