Sunday, 12th June 2016 assumed another symboIsm; this time
celebratory for the people of Ondo and Ogobia in Otukpo local government
area of Benue state as they finally resolved their long-standing feud
thanks to the intervention of Benue state Deputy Governor, Engr Benson
Abounu whose persistence and dogged determination to see peace return to
Ugboju paid off.
Consequently, those that fled the community in the aftermath of the
communal disturbances have been told to return home and begin their life
again.
The Deputy Governor had first visited Ugboju on Sunday 15th May, 2016 but his efforts at resolution of the feud were frustrated by the absence of some key stakeholders from the two brotherly communities.
The Deputy Governor had first visited Ugboju on Sunday 15th May, 2016 but his efforts at resolution of the feud were frustrated by the absence of some key stakeholders from the two brotherly communities.
Yesterday, however, everyone that mattered were present and for close
to five hours, Engr. Abounu sat down to listen to the two communities
pour out their grievances, stating their conditions for peace.
Ondo and Ogobia have been locked in a long standing feud over land
ownership and other sundry matters that concern their co-existence.
Atr end of the meeting which took place at Ondo, the people resolved
that being children of the same father, Onyilo Obagwu, both Ondo and
Ogobia are entitled to the position of Clan Head of Onyilo Obagwu; a
sticking point in the feud.
The Otukpo caretaker chairman, Hon. Ijachi Ude was mandated to inform
the Och,’Idoma of the desire of the people to fill the vacant position
of Clan Head so that he could constitute a committee to supervise the
selection of the substantive clan Head for the people.
The meeting further resolved that since Ondo and Ogobia make up one
clan, the two settlements can have only one clan Head though each of
them can have separate kindred head.
They also resolved that whereas land in both Ondo and Ogobia belong
to all children of Onyilo Obagwu, only those living in a particular
settlement can and should exercise right of sale of such land. This
right to sell any land, it was agreed must however be only exercised
with the consent of elders of the community.
The meeting sympathised with the families that lost their loved ones
and agreed to fom a committee of eminent persons to visit and
commisserate with parents of all those killed during the communal
disturbances earlier in the year.
Earlier, the Deputy Governor had expressed disgust with the descent
to killing and burning down of houses of fellow brothers and sisters. He
called on the people to truthfully bare their minds on all contentious
issues so that when resolutions are arrived at, they would endure.
A prominent son of the area, Prof. Lawrence Egah who, at the instance
of the Deputy Governor, convened the meeting thanked Engr Abounu for
his dogged commitment to the return of peace to Ugboju district and in
particular, Ondo and Ogobia.
District Head of Ugboju, Chief Solomon Apochi and all the speakers
among them, Dr. Enokela Efu, Ogah Adoga, Ijachi Udeh, Hon. Adanu
commended the Deputy Governor for taking so much of his crowded time to
sit with them and bring peace to their area. They all pledged to allow
peace reign in their midst as brothers.
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