Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh crisis: Okowa’s aide appeals for peace

Chief Frank Omare, the Director General, Special Duties to the Delta State Governor, has advised the people of Aladja community, Udu Local Government Area and Ogbe-Ijoh community, Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state, to sheath their swords and allow the panel of inquiry set up by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to proffer permanent solution to the age long acrimony.
He gave the advise while speaking to journalists in Warri on the recent killings, accusations and counter accusations going on between both communities. He said Governor Okowa is interested in seeing that the matter is resolved once and for all.
Chief Omare, who hails from Ogbe-Ijoh, lamented the allegation allegedly being peddled by the people of Aladja community that some well to do Ogbe-Ijoh citizens were sponsoring the crisis noting that he will gain nothing from the death and loss of property of any individuals.
“It is sad. Last Saturday my cousin was beheaded. I have never promoted crisis before. As an indigene of Ogbe-Ijoh I own my people responsibility to promote law and order. Even during the Warri crisis, I  played a major role in trying to bring about peace among the warring communities.
“So all those saying all sort of things about me are just being mischievous. The same group of persons at a time alleged I was the one sponsoring Avengers and I wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police and Director of State Security to get the people who are alleging to prove and I have since submitted myself for investigation but no security agency have come out to say I was behind Avengers.
“Now these set of persons are at it again. They are not only blackmailing me, they have marked me for assassination. My family members are no longer safe and I think I need to be protected. Aladja community have a lot of prominent people like Ogbe-Ijoh and I don’t think any of them will stoop so low to the point of masterminding killing and maiming. So, why should I be the one promoting the crisis? He asked.
Going further, he stated: “An average Ogbe-Ijoh man is very peaceful. This issue have lingered for the past 20 years and since March this year the Governor of Delta State (Dr Ifeanyi Okowa) has put his feet down in trying to set up a commission of enquiry but severally the Aladja people have backed out.”
He said that some persons who are feeding fat from the crisis have always sabotaged government efforts in resolving the age-long crisis, adding that despite the concerted efforts by stakeholders to dialogue on how the two ethnic nationalities can co-habit peacefully some elements often put clog in the wheel of progress.