…Call Government to Delineate Boundary
By Ebriku John Friday
Respite as notable elites of Igbeku-areko Kingdom and Ugaga Kingdom in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State yesterday rose from a meeting to condemn in strong terms the lingering communal clash between the two sister communities and sue for peace.
The meeting, which is in response to the aggravated communal arms conflict between the Igbekurikor and Ugaga communities, which has caused a sharp division between these two sister communities, and arrived at a significant resolution on the way forward.
This is just as notable elites from Igbekurikor and Ugaga, including Rt. Hon. Larry Odey, Elder Godwin Agi, Hon. Patrick Odey Ekawu, Air Vice Marshal Clement Ogbeche (rtd), Dr. Stella Oreme Odey, Hon. Gabriel Bravo Oluohu, Mr. Sunday Ogar, Mr. Stephen Uja Wogor, and Sir Austin Ipuole, in a resolution called on the Cross River State Government to as a matter of urgency delineate the boundary between the two warring communities.
The communities, once united by shared values and destinies, have become adversaries due to land disputes which have threatened their peaceful coexistence.
The meeting, held at the Capital Club and Apartments in Abuja on Tuesday, was attended by prominent elites from both communities, was called by His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Larry Odey, former Acting Governor and Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly.
The resolution was read to journalists by Hon. Stella Odey-Ekpo former Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Cross River State.
The key resolutions are as follows:
1) The elites condemned in totality the escalating violence between Igbekurikor and Ugaga.
2) A total cessation of hostilities between the two communities was called for.
3) The elites shall visit both communities to engage with youths, elders, and chiefs on the benefits of peace and harmony.
4) The Cross River State government should as a matter of urgency delineate the disputed boundary to create a lasting understanding of expansion limits for both communities.
5) Initiation of a sensitization program to discourage drug abuse/misuse and other youthful habits that often lead to violence.
6) Additionally, the committee plans to extensively interact with the chiefs to invoke traditional laws that negate violence and to sympathize with families who have lost loved ones during the conflict.
When questioned by the publisher of TheLeaderNg.com, Ebriku John Friday about security measures, Hon. Gabriel Bravo Oluohu assured the press that security measures are in collaboration with the peace efforts and involved all available security infrastructures in the area.
Former Commissioner for Information, Cross River State, Mr. Patrick Odey Ekawu, responded to inquiries about including other Yala communities in the peace process. He confirmed that there has been a synergy of interaction across the Yala communities with a unified message of peace.
Reacting as a security expert, AVM Clement Ogbeche (rtd) emphasized that security is a shared responsibility that can be effectively fulfilled through collaboration between security infrastructures and the people.
