Community Crises: Bayelsa Govt Sets up Reconciliation Committee

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State Government has constituted a seven-member committee to look into the issues causing hostility in Odioma Community in Brass Local Government Area of the state with a view to bringing lasting peace to the embattled coastal community.

The committee is chaired by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alaowei Gideon Ekeuwei, while the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Dambo (SAN), is to serve as the secretary of the committee.

Members of the committee include Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Thompson Amule; Commissioner for Special Duties (East), Hon. Preye Broderick, and the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Conflict Resolution, Chief Boma Spero-Jack.

Other are the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Mr. Akpoebi Agberebi, and the Technical Adviser on Special Duties, Mr. Richard Perekeme.

Constituting the committee during a meeting with the leadership and some stakeholders of Odioma at the Government House in Yenagoa yesterday, the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, charged them to be diligent in carrying out their assignment.

He equally mandated the committee to separately meet with the two factions led by the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr. Andrew Esau, as well as the Chairman, Odioma Council of Chiefs, Chief Munafa Marlin.

To leverage the committee’s assignment, the deputy governor specifically directed the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to work for the withdrawal of all cases directly linked to the current intra-community conflict in Odioma from the judiciary.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo also urged the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Romokere Ibani, who was represented at the meeting by his Deputy in charge of Administration, DCP Ofem Arikpo, to suspend the interrogation and prosecution of all those arrested recently until further notice.

Addressing the Odioma delegation, he called on the people to forget their differences and cooperate with the government in the interest of peace and development of their community.

The deputy governor, who advised the Odioma people to resist forthwith the temptation of arresting and counter-arresting themselves, however, warned that the government would not hesitate to deal decisively with any individual or group that goes against the current peace move.

According to him, “Odioma Community is very dear to us as a government. You must forgive one another and cooperate with your government to attract development to your community.

“If you continue to fight, who are we going to talk to and work with to execute the projects you came here to request for the other day? We are not going to recognise any faction and that is how development will elude you.

“We don’t want that. And that is why we are encouraging you to complement each other instead of engaging in unhealthy competitions that only cause conflict.

“I’ve already told the state Commissioner of Police that nobody should be charged to court based on the current arrests until we finish what we are doing. So, on your part too, there should be no more arrest.

“Anybody who arrests anyone again, the government will be left with no other alternative than to declare you as a persona non grata and an enemy of the state.”

In their separate remarks, the two factional leaders, Mr. Andrew Esau and Chief Munafa Marlin, appreciated the state government for the peace initiative, and promised to cooperate with the committee to resolve all the thorny issues affecting the peace and stability of Odioma Community.