Emma Amaize, Regional Editor,  South-South

OGBE-IJOH and Aladja, both Ijaw and Urhobo communities respectively in Warri South-West and Udu Local Government Areas of Delta State have been at loggerheads for many years over land dispute and sundry matters, which have remained intractable.

Former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori, tried his best during his time, while for the eight years that his successor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, held sway, the hostilities never ceased.

•Festus Agas

Under the present government, shepherded by Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the tension has continued unabated forcing the governor, to set up a Panel of Inquiry into the Aladja/Ogbe Ijoh boundary dispute, headed by Prof Abedenego Ekoko, an administrator from Delta South senatorial district, to demarcate the boundary between the two communities and other matters in May.

Other members are Mr. F.O. Osiawa, Surveyor General, Mr. J.N Ogabu, Asst. Surveyor-General, Barrister Ernest Edomwonyi, Legal Counsel/ Secretary, Chief Engr. Paulson Okobiebi, Elder Stephenson Lerhovwre [Aladja Community Representatives] and Hon. Denbofa Oweikpodor, Mr. Franklyn Igangan [ Ogbe-Ijaw Community Representatives].

Governor Okowa, who charged the Panel of Inquiry to handle its responsibility with fairness, due diligence, transparency and impartiality, reminded the members that “we have had two Panels of Inquiry in the past, the Justice Azinge’s Judiciary Commission in 1996 and Justice Frank Nwolu’s Panel of Inquiry in 2009, both proffered solutions but unfortunately the crisis continued over time”

He listed the Panel’s Terms of Reference as to define, demarcate and survey the boundary between Udu and Warri South West local government areas; survey and demarcate the extent of the land in dispute between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijaw communities; and recommend actions to be taken by Delta State Government to finally resolve the Aladja and Ogbe-Ijaw crisis and sustain mutual inter-communal relations.

Loss of lives

The crisis between the communities had resulted in unnecessary loss of lives; indeed the 1995/96 crisis claimed more than 30 people on both sides. In 2016, more lives had been claimed and houses torched.

At its inaugural sitting, June, in Warri, Prof Ekoko assured the two communities that the panel would live up to its expectation by ensuring impartiality, fairness and firmness in their proceedings.

He however, warned that the panel would not succumb to any acts of intimidation, threats or subversive influence in the course of its duties even as he reminded the feuding communities of the role of the panel in promoting peace and harmony, which it is hoped will finally put to an end the intractable dispute between them.

The panel had visited the two communities and conducted public hearing on the land dispute. In fact, the chairman of the panel in one of his visits to the communities, said: “I can see a win-win situation for Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja. I am very confident that both communities will live peacefully and harmoniously at the end of our assignment. When they live in peace, there will be progress and development.”

Matters go sour

But things appear to have taken a new turn, as Ogbe-Ijoh community has alleged that the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Hon Festus Agas, an Urhobo native of interfering with the work of the panel and other matters between Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja, which the SSG strongly denied.

Last month, a delegation of Ogbe-Ijoh walked out on the SSG at a peace meeting presided over by him in Warri and had vowed not to attend any meeting convened by him.

Ogbe-Ijoh petition

Earlier on October 31, Chairman of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Clan Governing Council, Alex Akemotubo Esq. had written a letter, accusing him of so many infractions against Ogbe-Ijoh, warning: “The Ogbe-Ijoh people are therefore worried that the activities of Hon Ovie Festus Agas may set in motion series of actions that he could not control and will affect the trust and confidence the Ogbe Ijoh people has for your government.”

In the letter, entitled, “Conduct of Secretary to Delta State Government, Hon Ovie Festus Agas towards Ogbe Ijoh people: Our Concern,” the community said: “Any person appointed as Secretary to State Government must see the entire state as his constituency, but it is very sad that Hon Festus Agas has reduced the office of Secretary to the State Government as an ethnic office. He ought to live above board.”

Specifically, Ogbe Ijoh claimed: ”Shortly after the public hearing of the Panel of Inquiry into Aladja/Ogbe Ijoh boundary dispute, Hon Ovie Agas accused Prof A Ekoko of taking bribe from the Ogbe Ijoh peple and doubted the credibility of the panel. Since then, Ovie Agas interference has stalled or completely delayed the boundary demarcation process.

He visits Aladja community frequently under the pretence of giving mobile policemen on ground logistics. We have been reliably informed that Hon Agas has concluded arrangement not only to frustrate the panel’s work, but also to ensure that the panel’s report never see the light of day.”

The community alleged that after the September 7 Security meeting at Governor’s Office Annex, Warri, Aladja community purportedly hired some persons to remove the pillars erected by the panel to demarcate the local government boundary of Udu and Warri South-West local government areas, but  Hon Agas stopped security agents “from enforcing arrest in Aladja.”

It said SSG directed the Commanding Officer, Navy, Warri to release Aladja representatives detained for breach of the peace at the Navy weekly meeting in Warri on September 20 and also passed a message to the Commissioner of Police to abort the invitation of the Ovie of Udu over the breach of May 13 peace accord entered with the police, which made the police not to investigate crimes committed in Aladja.

Assistant secretary of the council, Aaron Oweizi-Ebiye, who corroborated the claim by the chair, said: “The people of Ogbe-Ijoh no longer have confidence in any meeting that would be chaired by the SSG, which is the reason why the people of Ogbe-Ijoh community walked out on Agas.”

I’m innocent – Agas

However, the SSG, Hon Agas told Saturday Vanguard: “I see my appointment as SSG, Delta state as a call to service. Therefore, I have made up my mind to serve the state diligently without fear or favour.”

“Much as I do not want to join issues with anybody, I make bold to state that all the allegations levied against me are not true. For example, Professor Ekoko Panel has not submitted its report; I have not and will not interfere in its work.

“It is my hope that the panel’s recommendations would help the State Government find a lasting solution to the dispute between Ogbe Ijoh and Aladja,” he said.

Hon Agas added: “I have equally not given any directive to the Army, Police or any of the security agencies to detain and release any person whatsoever.”

SSG not bias- Anighoro

Defending the SSG, Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Civic Engagement and Civil Society, Mr Rex Ekiugbo Anighoro, said: “He (SSG) cannot be bias, he works for the state government , when issues occur, the SSG has different information at his disposal by virtue of his position, some are quite sensitive and not for public consumption. So, it is not everything that he discloses and his actions are guarded.”

“When he speaks on any matter, he equally has to be cautious and you know, when they are matters between people, all the aggrieved persons are right, if you do not see things from their perspective, you are wrong.

“So, it is understood if the Ogbe Ijoh says the SSG is not seeing things from their perspective, but the truth is that he has to be objective. But when the meetings continue, the warring parties will be able to strike equilibrium; this is how I see the matter. Bias on the part of Hon Agas is completely ruled out,” he said.

Retrace your step – Oyibode

Also speaking, Secretary of Urhobo Youth Leaders Association, UYLA, Mr. Vincent Oyibode, who responded to the allegation against the SSG, said: “The Ogbe Ijoh people were wrong to have walked out on the SSG as they did because he was not there in his own capacity. He was representing the governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.”

“He is doing his job, they say because he is an Urhobo, he is supporting Aladja, but I can tell you that the affected Urhobo communities are accusing him of not being firm on the issues at stake. The truth is that he has to be tactful.

“Ogbe-Ijoh was not even expected to have been at the meeting in which they walked out on the SSG, they were invited as a matter of courtesy because government wants peace among the communities. The matter for discussion was the Ayama, Epame, Isaba affair and walking out on the governor was uncalled for.

“They are behaving as if they do not want peace, such action is irresponsible in my opinion, but I will appeal for understanding and peace. The land we are fighting for, we met it in this world and we will all leave it and go when we die, they should retrace their step,” he asserted.

No going back on SSG- Ogbe Ijoh

Reacting, the chairman of Ogbe-Ijoh Clan Governing Council, Akemotubo said that Ogbe-Ijoh had petitioned the SSG and stood by its charges against him.

He asserted: “Our stand is that he is partisan, he is not representing the state government, he is representing the Urhobo and any meeting convened by the state government in respect of Ogbe Ijoh and other ethnic groups, headed by him, we will not be part of it.”

Akemotubo, however, said: “Ogbe-Ijoh did not walk out on the state government or mean that it will not attend any meeting called by government, we are only saying that anything that affects us with Hon Agas as the person presiding, we will not be part of it.”