Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has tasked the people of Azama and Isoni communities to put their peaceful co-existence ahead of any other consideration.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo stated this at a meeting with representatives of Azama Community and the Isoni/Azama Peace Committee at his office in Government House.
The Deputy Governor, who expressed delight that no life was lost as a result of the dispute, however encouraged members of both communities to sustain the prevailing peace.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media, Mr. Doubara Atasi, noted that Senator Ewhrudjakpo urged the youths of both communities not to take laws into their hands but remain patient as government was taking steps to resolve the issues.
He commended indigenes of both communities for maintaining their calm and allowing government to wade into the matter, assuring them of an unbiased approach to the resolution of the conflict, which has lingered on for several decades.
According to Senator Ewhrudjakpo, the prosperity government is committed to ensuring that communities within the state enjoy peace and good neighborliness as no development can take place in an atmosphere of rancour.
“Once there is a dispute and a life is lost in the dispute, that dispute becomes difficult to resolve. Over the years we have not heard that any blood has been spilled by either party on that land. We want to encourage everybody to maintain that path.
“I want to encourage us to calm down, tell the youths to calm down. No matter how strong a matter is, there is always a solution. We will not take sides but address the issues objectively to achieve greater peace between both communities”, he added.
Also Speaking, the Ebenanaowei of Apoi Clan, King Ikpangi Perekebina, stressed the need for an inter-local government boundary adjustment exercise in the state to avoid unnecessary land disputes between border communities in the state.
He said contrary to the claim of their sister Isoni Community in Sagbama Local Government Area, the present location of Azama Community in Southern Ijaw had never been known and used as an evil forest by any community.
King Perekebina called on the government to resolve the issue without bias and assured that the people of Azama would cooperate with the committee to achieve a lasting solution.
In their separate remarks, Chief Ayama Ezi and Mr Daniel Ebitimi, representatives of Tomoyanbiri and Opuwanbiri compounds of Azama, both expressed worry over the claims of Isoni Community as landlords of virtually all the lands in the area, and called for a speedy settlement of the dispute.

By: AriweraIbibo-Howells,Yenagoa