Evwreni Crises: Emerhor-led Peace Committee meets Okowa, to set up Judicial Panel of Inquiry

By Akpos Oghenetega,

The Olorogun O’tega Emerhor led Evwreni Crises Resolution and Peace Committee on Wednesday met with Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa as part of efforts geared towards resolving the crisis that has bedevilled Evwreni Kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state, in recent time.

Olorogun Emerhor, the founding leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State who led the delegation to the meeting, appealed to Governor Okowa to set up a judicial panel to look into remote causes of the crisis which has led to the killing of at least three persons in the area.

He told the governor that the Committee decided to visit him to seek his intervention and intimate him of the ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis, noting that the crisis has led to the destruction of properties worth millions of naira, yet are still posing for war.

He informed the governor that the collapse of his committee could result to a renewed hostility in the kingdom as aggrieved persons are hesitant to embrace the committee’s peace efforts.

He, thereafter, presented a copy of the committee’s letter jointly signed by him and five others including the committee’s secretary, Chief Emuobosa Victor Ohare, Elder Victor Mowoe and Chief Rufus Ebegba, urged Governor Okowa to step into the crisis.

The Committee in its 7-point demand reads in part:

“This committee seeing the calamity that will follow the collapse of the peace process by way of further loss of lives and properties and a complete breakdown of law and order in Evwreni community has decided, as our last hope, to appeal to you for your urgent: and decisive intervention as follows:

“That, you graciously appoint a Judicial Panel of Enquiry to look into the remote and immediate causes of the crisis. To ascertain the role played by various individuals and apportion blames where necessary.

“To look into the role of the community Vigilante in the crisis, their involvement in the killings and destructions, if any, to bring the guilty to book and to determine their dissolution as may be required.

“To look into the role played generally by youths and other armed groups in the killing and destructions in the community with a view of bringing them to book. To determine and identify possible sponsors of the violence either through the Vigilantes or the other armed groups with a view to bringing such sponsors to book.

“To look at the merit of the various claims to the stool of the Ovie of Evereni and resolve the agitations thereto. To look into and resolve any other issue(s) that will bring lasting peace to Evwreni kingdom”, Emerhor requested the governor.

Governor Okowa while responding to their request, expressed worry over the crisis, he, however, promised to attend to the request with the urgency it deserves and committing to do whatever it will take to restore peace and harmony back to the community.

He also thanked the Emerhor-led committee for their efforts, assuring them that his administration would do all that is necessary to restore peace to Evwreni Kingdom.