The Bayelsa State government on Thursday, mandated its boundary committee to immediately wade into the land dispute between Odioma and Obioku communities in Brass and Nembe Local Goveenment Areas of the state.
The Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the charge at an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting involving community leaders from Odioma and Obioku communities at the Government House, Yenagoa.
According to a statement by the deputy governor’s media aide, Mr. Doubara Atasi, the leadership of both communities were told to submit their claims and counter-claims over ownership of the disputed area to the committee without delay.
The deputy governor urged the committee to approach the assignment with a sense of urgency and objectivity guided by existing historical, administrative and legal facts to amicably resolve the inter-communal conflict.
He cautioned stakeholders of both communities, particularly the youths to maintain the peace and cooperate with the committee to enable it complete its assignment and report to government within one month.
Ewhrudjakpo, who is the chairman of the state boundary committee, however, directed the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr. Perepuighe Biewari, to serve as stand-in chairman to enable him receive and give final consideration to the committee’s report.
“The state boundary committee has taken over the matter to handle it. We will give both communities the opportunity to state their case and then the committee will submit its final report to government for further action.
“If the need arises, the committee will visit the disputed area. We are going to be guided by historical, administrative and legal factors concerning the dispute to enable us resolve it.
“So, we really need you to stretch your elasticity of patience beyond what it is now. Nobody should erect any signboard or do anything to provoke anybody. If there are houses, graves or any relics belonging to either Odioma or Obioku, let them remain.
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“Let me also remind chairmen of councils and community leaders of both communities of the need to take this issue very seriously because any breakdown of law and order will be on your heads,” the deputy governor said.
In their separate remarks, the member representing Nembe Constituency 2 at the state House of Assembly, Edward Brigidi, and his Brass Constituency 2 counterpart, Agala Timi-Omubo, said they were in full support of government’s gesture to resolve the lingering boundary impasse.
The lawmakers expressed confidence in the capability of the boundary committee to oversee the peace initiative to a logical conclusion, and equally called on the youths to remain peaceful and law-abiding.
Members of the committee to work with the stand-in Chairman, Mr. Perepuighe Biewari, include the Surveyor General of the state, the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, the state commissioner of police, and other security heads; local government chairmen, and the secretary of the boundary committee.
The committee has four weeks to submit its report.
