By Lucy Ezeliora
The people of Okwe Community, in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, has appealed to Governor Sheriff Obowevwori over an attempt to exclude their community and Traditional Ruler, HRH Obi, Samuel Akaraiwe, in the sharing ratio for development and remuneration meant for three Traditional rulers of Asaba, Oko and Okwe.
Speaking during a protest,the President General of Okwe Community, Comrade Ijeh Steve, disclosed that there is an accrued statutory amount meant to be shared amongst the three communities, Asaba, Okwe and Oko but no amount is coming to Okwe community till date.
According to him, in 2015, when the Akor of Oko Community had a dispute with HRM, the Asagba of Asaba with respect to sharing formula in Oshimili South Local Government and their account with the L.G was frozen until the Local Government Chairman intervened.
To reconcile the issues, between the traditional Rulers, a committee was set-up by the Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government Area, Hon. Kelvin Ezeyili, to resolve the issues between HRM the Asagba of Asaba and HRH the Akor of Oko, abandoning Okwe Community.
He said, members of Committee were drawn from Asaba and Oko Communities while Okwe Community was excluded and they arrived at a sharing formular for the two communities instead of three communities, 70% goes Asaba community, 30% to Oko Community while Okwe Community was nothing.
Also, the Onowu of Okwe got to know that the Oko and Asaba Community have agreed to an out of court settlement of the case and there is an agreement to disburse the funds that accumulated in the traditional rulers account over several years between Asaba and Oko communities without any recourse going to the Okwe Community.
He explained that, since the creation of the Local Government Area, the Traditional Ruler of Okwe Community, has always been recognized as separate autonomous community in the scheme of things within the Local Government.
He said, the skewed sharing formula is detrimental to the peaceful co- existence of the three communities in Oshimili South Local Government Area.
In the same vein, the Secretary of Okwe Community Development Association, Mr, Akaraiwe Joseph explained that equity, fairness and justice is what Okwe Community are fighting for, he said, We can not be excluded from the sharing formular from the LGA.
He called on the state Government to address the injustice and intervene in the said issues, facing Okwe Community and their Traditional Ruler adding that they are being suppressed and cheated out of their common heritage.
Speaking to the Asagba of Asaba, HRM, Obi Epiphany Azinge, through his media Director, Ogbueshi Sylvan Oforgu, he reaffirmed his commitment to peace, justice and equity adding that, the palace has nothing to do with the said issues facing Okwe Community, it has to do with the Chairman of the Local Government addressing the issue facing the three communities, Asaba Oko and Okwe, respectfully.