Stay Calm, Remain Peaceful, Ajede To Adonishaka Community

In pursuance of Peace and Security, a cardinal point in the STEP-UP UKWUANI AGENDA of the Ajede-led administration in Ukwuani Local Government Area, Adonishaka community have been called to remain peaceful and calm while lasting solution is being profered to the issues besieging the community.

The Chairman, Ukwuani Local Government, Hon (Barr) C.S.P Ajede yesterday visited the elders and youths in Adonishaka community, Ebedei to sue for peace following the unrest that has rocked the community since one Mr Chukwunalu Isaac Akandu was allegedly arrested by one faction on Tuesday morning.

Recall that in April, the council Chairman called and presided over an extraordinary peace building meeting of the Land Owners Association of Adonishaka/Ogbe-Uzu community, Oil & Gas Companies operating in the community and representatives of Adonishaka community; and in that meeting the following resolutions were taken by all parties involved:

1. That Platform Petroleum Ltd should continue to hold on to the honorarium for the community & Land Owners Association until issues surrounding representation of the Community is decided in court.

2. That going forward, when and where necessary, meetings with the companies & the community might have a third party possibly from the ministry.

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3. That all Parties should go back & call their people to order and maintain peace at all cost.

4. That, the security agence should continue to patrol Adonishaka/Ogbe-Uzu area while maintaining peace and order.

5. That Power Gas Ltd should expedite actions and meet with relevant stakeholders in the community to draft an MOU.

6. That, the local government will resist any Diaspora/external powers/individuals creating crisis in the community using already established Community organs.

Crisis have been brewing between the Land Owners Association and the other faction of Land Owners Association and the Oil & Gas Management Committee (OGMC) in Adonishaka since who should lay claims to benefits from the companies and/or interface with oil companies domiciled in the land cannot be determined by stakeholders.

The lingering issue has snowballed into a full blown crisis resulting in the destructions of properties worth several millions of naira and scuffles which resulted in severe physical injuries amongst the aggrieved youths in the community when the news of the arrest of Mr Chuks filtered into the community.

Meanwhile, Barr Ajede on Friday met with the youths and appealed to them to shun violence and remain calm while the issues are being looked into dispassionately.

He also took an impact assessment transect walk round the quarters.

The Chief Security Officer of the LGA, further visited the Onotu-uku of the community for peace talk and he also met with some of the injured youths while the family compound of Mr. Osugba which was invaded by some unidentified hoodlums who tried to set the buildings ablaze during the wee hours of yesterday were also visited.

The community expressed their gratitude to the chairman for coming and assured him that there will be calmness and peace in the area while adding that they will resolve their differences in a roundtable discussion.