Gov Oborevwori’s Claimed Resolution Of Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh Conflict: Our Doubts

We should be happy to hear that lingering boundary crises between Ogbe-Ijoh of Warri South West LGA and Aladja of Udu LGA that has claimed lives and property over the years has been resolved by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

This conflict has defiled lasting resolution due to lack of political will by successive administrations to take meaningful action.

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However, a reading of the development in the media leaves much doubts as to the sincerity in the claimed settlement by the governor or whether it is sheer propaganda to score another cheap political advantage.

One would have expected the Delta State Governmenr to clearly publish the key terms of settlement that have made both neighboring communities to yield to a much needed mutual consent to peaceful coexistence.

No reference to a defined mapping or boundary demarcation or mention of any other specific term of settlement acceptable to both parties, so that if in near or distant future any side breaches the terms they have signed to, government and relevant institutions know who to hold responsible.

Instead what we have seen are photos of the governor shaking hands with both community leaders beaming with smile, Oborevwori promising to upgrade the road linking both communities and the communities pledging with no defined commitment to live in harmony.

We further read that the governor promised to make pronouncement on the peace agreement that has been reached. Again we are curious. What pronouncement would the governor make again if agreement has been reached? What if such pronouncement that could not be made along with the resolution ends up stirring dissents when eventually made?

For us, any meaningful resolution of this lingering crisis should spell terms of settlement duly signed by the two communities. And instead of publishing mundane pictures of the governor’s hand shake, we urge the state government to publish the terms of settlement of the conflict.

Every Aladja and Ogbe Ijoh son and daughter as well as the two Local Governments and security agencies should be exposed to the terms of settlement so individuals can know the limit set in the terms and not breach same.

Until that is done, we cannot clap to key stakeholders doing same thing same way all over and expecting different results. We have had several hyped settlements of mere handshakes with no commitment in the past. The problem persisted.

We need sustainable peaceful coexistence between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijon and Gov Oborevwori should make the difference by taking departure from previous ineffective resolution of the conflict, so it doesn’t relapse into a game of death and destruction again.

Zik Gbemre
March 10,2025

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