Bodo Community: Tortuous Journey To Peace …As Paramount Ruler Returns

Bodo City, a coastal community in Gokana LGA recently celebrated one year of relative peace.
Following resolutions at a peace meeting convened by the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Emeka Nwonyi, between the Paramount Ruler of Bodo, King John Sunday Berebon, his Council of Chiefs, Head of Dynasties, elites and other community leaders, Bodo Community has got back its groove as the paramount ruler returned home from exile to the warm embrace of his people.
The event attracted key Ogoni stakeholders from the religious circle, traditional institution, civil society groups among others, who came to celebrate the peace process with the people.
Addressing the people at the community’s town square, the Paramount Ruler of Bodo Community, King John Berebon who demonstrated deep remorse and sobriety in his countenance openly apologised to the people over the events of the past, and urged the people to put an end to all incidences of violence in the community, and work towards sustainable peace and development.
Harping on the need for unity of purpose in the community, the Paramount Ruler appealed to those affected by the recent violence to forgive in the interest of peace and development of and look forward to a more prosperous Bodo.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the community gathering, the Paramount Ruler acknowledged that the crisis was a snag that crippled the community’s years of enduring development efforts but expressed hope that such negative vicissitude will not resurface in the community.
In his remarks, a former Niger Delta agitator and traditional ruler, High Chief Solomon Ndigbara commended the people of Bodo for embracing peace to herald a new lease of life and development in the community.
Ndigbara who hails from Yeghe community in the local government, called on youths in the community to ‘’embrace peace and shun violence for meaningful development to take place in Bodo”.
Ndigbara also restated his commitment to work with security agencies to ensure lasting peace in the area.
The Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) in Bodo City, John Vaah who also spoke at the event expressed gratitude to God for the return of peace in the community.
He said, “I’m very happy that all of us are gathered here to celebrate the return of peace in Bodo City, the crisis has negative effects in the development of our community, but with peaceful coexistence among us now, more developmental projects will be implemented in the community to improve the living conditions of the people”.
Before now, the community is known for its hospitality centred around an attraction created by its special foods and sea delicacies , its serenity and social life which make it a destination to choices.
The prime coastal community has a cosmopolitan and commercial outlook, and boasts of a fair portion of modernity and civility among other Ogoni communities.
Apart from its strategic location as a coastal and boundary community, Bodo City is known for its deep sense of hospitality centred around its special sea delicacies, serenity and social life.
Unfortunately, in recent times, the once flourishing community fell into a turmoil of intra communal crisis that shattered its uncommon bond, severing old ties of brotherhood and filial affinity.
They persevered through this trying moments adapting themselves to find lasting solutions to the evolving problems while pegging hope on all measures of possible respite, but the embittering crisis seemed unabated.
The crisis which is linked to vested interests, disagreements among stakeholders over leadership and management of community fortunes, and supremacy contests among cultists operating in the area, among other divisive factors, balkanised the rank and file of the people, attracting negative attention to the once peaceful community.
Investigations reveal that the community crisis started after it won a huge sum from Shell Petroleum Development Company over environmental rights.
An out of court settlement and for the clean-up of oil spill in the community, got enmeshed in a lingering crisis afterwards, as a result of sharp disagreements among key stakeholders, leading to the exile of the Paramount Ruler, King John Sunday Berebon, and other prominent personalities who alleged threats to their lives by suspected cultists in the community.
The crisis created opportunities for some selfish interests to rip off the fortunes of the community, and this drifted the general prospects of economic development of the community, thereby driving a wedge against the collective aspiration of the people in a self sustaining and thriving economy.
The deepening factionalisation of the people therefore left in its wake untold consequences including wanton killings and destruction of properties.
But the task of renewing peace in the community took a long process. Many indigenes were worried by the degenerating effects of the crisis, as stakeholders of the community became most concerned and kept reserved attention on the ensuing events and activities in the community, and opted to work out a process of restoring the old cherished peace and sense of order that made Bodo a centre of attraction.
However, it took the intervention of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Emeka Nwonyi, to broker peace in the community.
The peace process was initiated by the Commissioner of Police and followed up with several meetings and overtures with stakeholders of the community to unite the two factions and restore lasting peace in the community.
At the end of several meetings and interventions with critical stakeholders and concerned authorities, at the instance of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, respite finally came the way of Bodo people recently following a happy and emotional reunion and resuscitation of the broken facades of the people.
The peace process evolved through the instrumentality of a peace and reconciliation committee headed by renowned academic and pioneer Secretary of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, Prof Ben Nanen, which liased with other stakeholders to broker a conciliation and reconciliation process that brought the community back from the woods.
The nostalgic reunion among the people which took place in the community recently, signalled a rebirth of sustainable peace among the people as they thronged to the community’s town square to celebrate the return of peace with a collective vow to abide by the peace accord.
The event also attracted key Ogoni stakeholders from the religious circle, traditional institution, Civil Society group among others, who came to celebrate the peace process with the people.
The Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) in Bodo City, John Vaah said, “I’m very happy that all of us are gathered here to celebrate the return of peace in Bodo City, the crisis has negative effects in the development of our community, but with peaceful coexistence among us now, more developmental projects will be implemented in the community to improve the living conditions of the people”.
Also speaking with newsmen during the community peace gathering, a renowned cleric and stakeholder in the community, Rev. Msgr. Barinem-livy Boniko urged all stakeholders of the community to contribute their quota in the preservation of peace in the community.
He urged the youth to shun violence and embrace peace, pointing out that “lasting peace and stability can only be achieved in Bodo when the people engage in dialogue rather than violence and acrimony to resolve evolving conflicts and differences among them.”.
This he explained will engender mutual trust, unity and development in the community.
In her submission, a woman leader in the community, Mrs Charity Yaah-Gana thanked God for the restoration of peace in Bodo City. She decried the unremitting seduction of violence and self destruction among the youths and urged them to resist the spirit of aggression by sheathing their swords and embrace peace in the overall interest of the community.
Distinguished academic and Ogoni-born activist, Prof Ben Nanen who hails from Bodo City also lent his voice to the peace moves in the community.
Prof Nanen who is a member of Bodo Peace and Reconciliation Committee, in a mark of gratitude, thanked the people of Bodo City for embracing peace to end the dark phase of life witnessed in the community.
He said the colossal damages incurred by the community as a result, of the crisis were a grave set back and dent on the development efforts of people that will require a quantum leap to remedy.
The university teacher, however, expressed hope that Bodo City will be restored to its past glory with the return of peace in the community and urged all stakeholders particularly the elites to be key partakers in the peace building community development efforts.
The climax of the community reunion was the administration of traditional peace oaths by High Chief Solomon Ndigbara to some youths and stakeholders in the community.
According to some stakeholders who spoke on the sidelines of the event, the traditional peace oath symbolises commitment to peace on the part of all affected parties in the conflicts.

By: Taneh Beemene