Bayelsa Set To Sanction Errant Community Leaders

The Bayelsa State Government on has reiterated its resolve to wield the big stick on any paramount ruler who fails to accept responsibility for communal actions that threaten peaceful coexistence in their domains.
The State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, stated this while receiving a report from the Ad-hoc Committee on the Investigation and Resolution of the Dispute Between Korokorosei and Ondewari communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area at his office in Yenagoa.
Ewhrudjakpo insisted that government would not hesitate to take disciplinary action against community leaders that refuse to live above board, citing the recent case of the deposed paramount ruler of Otuokpoti community in the Ogbia area.
He averred hat government would not tolerate any instance of community leaders making themselves canon fodder to fuel and exacerbate inter-communal crisis, calling on the Amananaowei of Ondewari community and his Korokorosei counterpart to demonstrate sincerity by upholding the truth to enable government resolve their differences amicably for the sake of peace.
Commenting on the seized chainsaw and missing pieces of timber, which is alleged to be the immediate cause of the crisis, the deputy governor however declared that government would not pay a dime to any of the two feuding communities,saying this is to avoid setting a bad precedent.
He noted that there is always a price to pay for not doing what is right, just as he directed that the Korokorosei community should replace the chain saw, while Ondewari Communitiy pay for the planks.
Submitting the report on behalf of the Adhoc Committee, the Chairman and member representing Southern Ijaw Constituency four (4) in the state House of Assembly,Chief Macdonald Igbadiwe, observed that the alleged acts were carried out by people from both communities as reprisal actions over a disputed land.
Igbadiwe disclosed that the Committee, among other things, had recommended the signing of a peace pact between Korokorosei and Ondewari communities to restore lasting peace in the area.
The Adhoc Committee chairman stated that his committe submitted that government take very drastic action against any person or group of persons from any of the two sister communities who use weapons to threaten the other over the disputed land.
The 3-member Ad-hoc conflict investigation and resolution Committee had the Chairman of Southern Ijaw Area, Chief Nigeria Ebidoughabofa Kia and a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Dr Moses Areprekumor.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa