By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
Notable opinion leaders from Afiesere community has at different fora denounced having crisis, communal clash or land dispute with Ogbavwan community contrary to the wrong impression been sponsored and created in the media and before the government and others, describing the people of Ogbovwan community as its customary tenant.
Olorogun Francis Onobruchere, in a statement he signed, declared that Afiesere community has no land dispute, neither communal clashes with Ogbovwan community.
According to the statement; “To ensure there is total peace, it is very sacrosanct to notify the government and the general public that Afiesere community is peace loving.
“To put the records straight, Afiesere community had not at anytime had a dispute with Ogbovwan community as been propagated by them.
“Ogbovwan community is a customary tenant to Afiesere community because their ancestral home of Ogbovwan is lying and situated at about 3km from their present location which they knew belong to Afiesere community. One important question is, is there anything wrong if Afiesere community secured their land by erecting a sign post it?
The statement further noted that it is also on record, that a meeting of both parties was held to dialogue on the issue of why Afiesere community should erect their sign post in their (Afiesere) land, and it was resolved that both communities should meet within a fortnight.
The statement however expressed surprise when it was brought to the notice of Afiesere Community that Ogbovwan community has petitioned them to the office of the Special Adviser to the Delta state Governor on Peace and Conflict Resolution and same to the traditional ruler of Ughelli Kingdom and Ughelli Council of Chiefs.
“We have been expecting Ogbovwan community to call us for a follow up meeting, but till date we have not heard from them and nothing has happened and, we have decided to advised our people not to respond to any form of provocation of any sort from Ogbovwan community.
“It is on this note, we want to state and mentioned that Afiesere community is at peace with Ogbovwam people.
“As you are aware, there are several land issues and it is on record that the present country home of the person who made that press release is in Afiesere community land.
“It is important for the state government to know that what we are doing is to secure our land, and as you know, from where we erected our sign board to where our oil field is located belong to Afiesere community.
“We are not in any way oppressing Ogbovwan community as currently we have not gotten any invitations from the state government or any relevant authorities”