False Alarm: We Are In Absolute Peace, No Crisis In Oviri-Olomu- Olorogun Ewenede

Declares Community Safe For Oil Companies Operations

…Landlords, Community Members Denies Reports Purporting War In Community

By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye,

OVIRI OLOMU – CONTRARY to media report in some dailies and Online medium that crisis looms In Oviri-,Olomu’, the President General of the Community, Olorogun John Akaruaye Ewenede JP, has denied any form of crisis, war or fighting in the community.

This position was confirmed as eight out of the nine known landlords that owns the prospective drilling site has also denied any crisis or illegal transactions.

Laying down the facts as they are
It is a known fact that since the discovering of oil by the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company NPDC, in the community, there has been media war and bickering by some  members who alleged to be sole owners with attempt to cause disaffection.

The recent publication by a section of the landlords that there’s imminent crisis seem to be the last straw that breaks the camel’s back, forcing the community to call a general meeting of all sons and daughters to the ancient Oviarien Hall.

To ensure that false claims, accusations were laid to rest, journalists from both print, broadcast and online media were invited also.

Addressing thousands of community indigenes and residents at the Oviri-Olomu Community Town Hall on Sunday, October 10, 2021, President General of the Community said, he was surprise and amazed when his attention was drawn to the said publication and as well received a call from the security agents asking him what is happening in his community. 

According to him, “I was shocked when I got the call, and I quickly dashed down to the community from where I was, but it was sad to note, that on getting here, there was no form of war, fighting or misunderstanding as everywhere was peaceful, calm and everyone going about their normal duties.”

Ewenede disclosed that on October 1, 2021, an elaborate meeting between the Central Development Committee CDC, Community Elders and the Nine recognized families of Onakuta Family, George Akanuota Family, Ashe/Opha Family, Onokahweri Family, Ovwiomodiohwo Family, Ibrume Family, Akpeghwughwu Family, Irevworuemu and Edariese Family was held.

He added that during the meeting, it was resolved among all  that committee of representatives be set up for boundary identification and verification which all present at the meeting also concurred.

The PG stressed that to his dismay on October 5, 2021, five out of the nine families held a press conference in Owhase where they misinformed the public, painted a wrong impression, laid false allegations and made claims that only five families owned the land and that NPDC should recognize only these families but not the community.
Ewenede who was visibly bittered by the report, however noted that the rational behind the elaborate meeting of (Sunday, October 10) is to hear the report of the delegates sent for the boundary identification and verification, and for Mr. Shedrack Akanuota, leader of those that attended the purported press conference to come out and tell the community where the crisis or fight is brewing.

Delegation Report:
On behalf of the delegation, Alhaji Sule Afide, presented the report to the entire community which listened with keen interest in an atmosphere of peace.

Afide narrated bit by bit how the delegates went about the boundary identification and verification exercise, stating that the nine families claiming ownership or landlords of  the said area were asked to identify their boundaries, and that heads of each of the families identified their boundaries, and were also asked if they were satisfied, which they affirmed except the Edariese family that didn’t show up for the exercise.

 
Continuing, Afide also noted, that from their discovery, the Esiserha Akpeghwughwu, Ovwiomodiohwo and Onakuta families, owned the larger parts, but, that all other families also had theirs impacted. He added that since parts of the land belonging to each of these nine families are impacted, it was agreed that the nine families are the landlords.

Mild drama as Akanuota denounces his allegation

There was a mild drama immediately the reports by the community boundary verification delegates was given, as the arrow head of the alarming publication, Mr. Shedrack Akanuota came out to denounce his claim of only five families owning the land. 

In his words, “I am no longer concerned about the numbers of families that owned the land, but all I want is for the President General to take me along to sign the Memorandum of Understanding MoU with NPDC”.

There was a great laughter amongst the people, Akanuota was however told by numbers of community indigenes that it is the responsibility of the Central Development Committee led by the President General and his Executive and selected representatives to discuss, sign and harmonize all issues regarding to their operations in the community. 

Families disclaim the crisis report
Meanwhile, various heads of eight of the nine families identified to be landlords of the proposed oil drilling site have come publicly to denounced the  purported publication of October 6, 2021, disclosing that they are not aware of such publications and never authorized such as heads if the family. 

They took turns to condemned the totality of the false publication, maintaining that there is no iota of truth in it and it is a calculated attempt to cause chaos where there was none.

Those who publicly disclaimed the alarming publication included Pastor George Warri, head of Akanuota family, Pastor David Okoro for Irevworuemu family, Mr. Olu Ashe and Madam Anna Ashe for Ashe family, Mr. Dennis Alobo and Mrs. Monica Ifada for Ovwiomodiohwo family, Mr. Akporhiere David Otogbere and Mr. Terry Owe Atomre for Onakuta family. 

Others included Mr. Ibada Onokahweri and Mrs. Christy Oghenemurhokor for Onokahweri family, Mr. Oghenegabor Sunday and Mr. John Edafe for Ibrume family and Mrs. Esiserha ImOgbavwudu and Mrs. Ujevwe Sunday for Akpeghwughwu family.

Community appeals for calm
The President General of the Oviri-Olomu Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, Olorogun John Ewenede appealed to all indigenes to allow peace to reign and never to mislead the public. He however warned, that henceforth, no son or daughter of Oviri-Olomu should address the press without formal clarification from the Central Executive Committee or the Elders as anyone found wanting will be liable.

With the peaceful meeting and resolution by all the families involved and the entire Oviri-Olomu Community, it is now glaring that the said publication was false and fake as it has no backing of any one.