From: Ben Dunno, Warri
Chairman of Ugborodo Administrative Committee (UAC), Mr. Jolomi Metseagharun, has called for the investigation of the Secretary to Delta State Government (SSG), Hon. Ovie Agas.
The demand for probe of Agas was predicated on the alleged role he purportedly played in inciting crisis across the Itsekiri riverine communities especially in Ugborodo, Warri South-West Local Government Area by constituting illegal administrative committees in the area.
Speaking against the backdrop of last Wednesday’s bloody clash in Delgele community where about 16 indigenes were critically wounded in fierce battle between youths loyal to the local administrative committee and the one reportedly inaugurated by the government clashed along Otumara creek over supremacy in the community, Metseagharun, noted that these are avoidable blood shedding in their communities.
While accusing the SSG of deliberately causing disaffections among kinsmen and inciting crisis in the riverine communities especially in Ugborodo and other adjoining settlements by his action, Metseagharun stated that Hon. Agas needed to be call to order if the government was sincere about putting a permanent end to the ongoing carnage among kinsmen in Itsekiri land.
Consequently, he appealed to the federal government to investigate the Delta government SSG, Mr. Agas, with the view of finding out why he has chosen to incite indigenes of Ugborodo and other Itsekiri communities against one another, adding that it has become clear very clear that the aim and objective was to perpetually oppress the local indigenes who are predominately members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.
Responding, the Secretary to Delta state Government (SSG), Hon. Ovie Agas, dismissed the allegations as senseless, baseless and laughable, stating that government does not have anything to do with composition of committees on behalf of any ethnic groups in the state as it is the prerogative of the communities to do so within the armpits of the law guiding such community and their people.
Metseagharun, however, insisted that the action of the SSG was a gross abuse of position and power, noting that it was the arbitrary use of power by Mr. Ovie Agas that led to the deaths, crisis and unrest in Ugborodo and Delgele community.
He said, “Agas inaugurated parallel committee for both Ugborodo community and neighbouring Delgele community and this singular action had led to avoidable deaths of indigenes, as well as chaos and anarchy in Ugborodo and other Itsekiri settlements”.
“We have it on good authority that Mr. Agas intention was to perpetually oppress the locals who are committed members of the APC and hardened supporters of President Muhammed Buhari’s government by imposing committee members who are PDP faithfuls residents in Warri urban on them against their wish”, adding that he has also written to the various oil companies not to have any dealings with the people residents in the community”.
In his reaction, Hon. Agas warned those castigating and attempting to malign the name of the state government to score cheap political point to desist from such an act, as the government was never interested in promoting seed of discord that would lead to brothers taking up arms against their kinsmen in any community.
He said it was the desire of any responsible government to ensure that every community lives in peace and harmony so that the desired development would reach every part of the state.