Ikoro/Obazuwa Clash: IYC Urges Obaseki To Urgently Intervene
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Western Zone has called on His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State to urgently wade into the looming communal clash between Ikoro, an Ijaw community and Obazuwa community in Edo State over land related issues before it dovetailed into something else.
This was contained in a statement signed and circulated to newsmen in Warri yesterday by the trio of Dr. Doubra Collins Okotete, Chairman, Comrade Olu-Derimon Omaghomi, Secretary and Comrade Lugard Izoukumor, Information Officer, a copy of which was sent to The Liberator Newspapers Worldwide.
The Western Zone IYC had particularly called on the peace loving people of Ikoro community to continue to remain peaceful, describing the alleged attack on Ikoro community by Obazuwa community as unfortunate and unnecessary.
The statement reads in full below:
July 21, 2021
Press Statement
Attack on Ikoro by Obazuwa Community: IYC sues for Peace, Urges Obaseki to intervene
The Ijaw Youth Council, (IYC) Western Zone says the attack by Obazuwa Community, on Ikoro an Ijaw Community in Edo State, which is the ancestral headquarter of Olodiama Kingdom is unnecessary and unfortunate.
In the opinion of the IYC, the attack by Obazuwa Community to the Ijaw Community is not needed at a time where the Niger Delta is confronted with so many challenges of the PIB Bill, restructuring, the pollution of Niger Delta lands by oil exploration and gas flaring, and of course, the debate of devolution of power in Nigeria. Hence, IYC calls on Governor Godwin Obaseki to intervene by calling leaders of Obazuwa Community for restraint, decorum and embrace peace.
Consequently, Governor Obaseki should put conflict resolution methods by opening the windows for constructive dialogue and engage critical stakeholders from Ikoro and Obazuwa Communities in Edo State to remedy this unnecessary dispute.
The Ijaw people of Edo State like other Ijaws in Delta, Ondo, Rivers to name a few that cut across the Nigerian State are peace lovers who have continuously advocated for unity, peaceful-coexistence and the stability of these various States and the Nigerian State at large.
So, the IYC believes it will be in the interest of the Edo State Government, the Ijaw people of Olodiama and by extension the Ijaws of Edo State, Obazuwa Community and other ethnic groups in Edo State to live in peace because peace is the only panacea for sustainable economic development.
Signed: for IYC Western Zone Dr. Doubra Collins Okotete, ChairmanComrade Olu-Derimon Omaghomi, Secretary and Comrade Lugard Izoukumor, Information Officer.
