*Defaulter will be prosecuted according to the laws of the land
— Ekiugbo and Ihwreko communities signed a Peace – Accord
By Ogbagah Matthias, Chriatabel Itobore & Benedicta Ehwehwen
UGHELLI – As part of his determination to put an end to the long-age crisis engulfed Otor-Ihwreko and Ekiugbo communities in Ughelli north local government area, Delta State, rising from a joint meeting of the critical stakeholders of the council and both communities, the council boss, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, has abolished all forms of illegal levies collections in the Ughelli main market and all street traders in Ughelli and its environs.
The abolishment of the illegal collections, trading along the walkways and middle of the road including Wheelbarrows / Carts, etc, at the market is contained in a communique issued at the joint stakeholders meeting held at the chairman’s house on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
The stakeholder meeting has in attendance the Executive Chairman, the Director General of Waterways and Land Security, Hon. Chief Boro Opudu, all Security Agencies, the Otota of Ughelli Kingdom, Representatives of Otor-Iwhreko and Ekiugbo Communities.
While adopting the earlier communiqué dated Thursday, May 6, 2021, the stakeholders observed with dismay the nonimplementation of the Communiqué dated Thursday, May 6, 2021, agreed that the reason for this recent crisis is a result of non-implementation of the 2021 communique and therefore decided that the contents should be re-adopted.
The communiqué reads in parts;
“That the Local Government Council headed by Olorogun Jaro Movudu Egbo Ksc should take its rightful constitutional stand as the administrator of the Markets, and the collection of all levies and revenues as guaranteed in the Constitution of Nigeria.
“That both communities viz Ekiugbo and Otor-Iwhreko are banned from collecting any form of levies in the market and from all Street traders.
“That the Security Agencies henceforth deal with any person, group of persons or community that engages in illegal collection of levies in and around the market
“That trading and market activities along the road or walkways Otor- Iwhreke, Ekiugbo, and Otovwodo markets shall henceforth be illegal, and offenders shall be arrested and prosecuted.
“The issue of the boundary between Ekiugbo and Otor-Iwhreko Communities shall be referred to the appropriate authority at Asaba for its final resolution by the State Government.
“The Police/Army Command should establish Police Posts on both sides of the River striding the market to maintain the peace of the area.
“That henceforth, none of the communities shall collect any form of
illegal levies from the market traders.
“That trading at the middle of the road, including Wheelbarrows/Carts ete at the market, is hereby abolished.
“That if any of the content of this communique is flouted by any of the Communities, the Youth Leader/Chairman President shall be held responsible by the security authority”.
Earlier, ACP. Ademola Adebayo lambasted the leadership of both communities for the long-term crisis involving both communities, saying they are the causes of the crises.
Meanwhile, leaders of both warring communities denied the involvement of their communities in the recent crisis that took the lives of three persons.
The communique was signed by Olorogun Jaro Movudu Egbo Ksc the
Executive Chairman of Ughelli North Council, Surv. Peter Akpofure Otota of the Great Ughelli Kingdom and Representative of HRM, the Ovie of the Ughelli Kingdom, Chairman of Delta State Waterways, Hon. Chief Boro Opudu, Secretary to the Local Govt. Ughelli North Local Government, Hon. Pst. Goodluck Irikefe Unuavworho, Chief Obriki Uloho Miller (Most senior chief of Ughelli Kingdom), Chief Akpimegi Samuel (President General of Ugh. Kingdom), President general of Otor-Iwhreko Community, Engr. David Omotor,
President of Ekiugbo Community, Comrade Convey Irhude Friday, Immediate past president general Ekiugbo community, Bernard Baker, Prof. Omotor Douglas (Stakeholder), ACP. Ademola Adebayo (Ughelli Area Commander), CSP Sadiq Mana DPO “A” Division, Capt. Bello Olu Emmanuel Bravo (Commanding Officer Nigeria Army, Ughelli), Benedict Koche O/C DSS Ughelli North, Emmanuel Omovie Esq.
HOD Legal Ughelli North Local Govt.,
Godwin Onovweghware (O/C Security Ughelli North Local Government area.
