Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The people of Orogho Community in Orhionmwon Local government Area of Edo State have faulted the position of some group of individuals from Eku town in neighbouring Delta State allegedly claiming indigenes of Iwevbo, an Urhobo speaking locality in Orogho Dukedom.
The community’s secretary general, Mr. Ikponmwosa Osayomore, stated this in a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Benin City.
He said the motive of the said individuals is to deny the people of their privileges, rights and benefits by allegedly colluding with an Executive of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), in the community and their cohorts under the guise of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), without recourse to the traditional rulership of the land.
“The provisions of the PIA is quite clear and explicit. It is not enacted to distort the unity of the people neither was it meant to desecrate the Laws, Customs and Traditions of Edo land as purported by these micro-scopic entities”, Osayomore said.
He pointed out that the people of his community need peace and not war, therefore, concerned authorities should come to their rescue before it snowballs to a major crisis in the community.
“We want development, peace and tranquility to prevail. We are calling on the Oba of Benin, HRM, Oba Ewuare II, Edo state governor, His excellency, the executive governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, Delta State governor, Ifaenyi Okowa and the Federal government of Nigeria to call on those who are bent on throwing Iwevbo people in Orogho Dukedom into a state of anarchy, an action that is tantamount to breaching the existing Peace in the land.
“Emmanuel Edevbie, who claims to be a spokesman for the Iwevbo people should be apprehended immediately by security personnel for inciting chaos, disharmony and blasphemous utterances (defamation of character) against our most revered Enogie of Orogho Dukedom, HRH, Osayande Patrick Akenzua.
“The good people of Iwevbo in Orogho Dukedom in Orhionmwon LGA, of Edo state recognize the traditional rulership of our Enogie, the Enogie of Orogho Dukedom and are not in anyway in support of those transversing the Eku-Iwevbo borders to foment Chaos and unprecedented fiasco.
“We want to reaffirm that the Customs and Traditions of Edo land remains sacred, sacrosanct and supreme”, the statement stated in parts.
However, Emmanuel Edevbie, when contacted, denied ever inciting people against the Enogie HRH Osayande Patrick Akenzua.
“ I did not and I will never incite anyone against the Enogie… I am a law abiding citizen of Nigeria.
“NUPRC has given host communities directive to deal with oil companies directly, but the Enogie still prefers to deal with the oil companies through proxy and that is modern slavery.
“My position is that the Enogie should respect the directive of the NUPRC”, Edevbie said