Dec. 10, 2022- Mr Erastus Awortu, Chairman, Andoni local government area in Rivers said ‘Truth’ is a major sacrifice capable of resolving the numerous boundary disputes that had slowed down peace and development in local Communities.
Awortu stated this on Friday at Ngo, the council’s headquarter during an end of year conference of the ‘Oru Obolo Traditional Rulers Forum’.
Oru obolo Forum is a collection of traditional Rulers of Obolo land, domiciled across 8 local governments of; Andoni and Ido in Rivers, Eastern Obolo, Ibono, Oron, Mbo, Okobo, Udung Uko and Urue Offong/Oruko LGAs in Akwa Ibom State as well as Ohafia in Abia State.
The age long association is expected to uphold the common ancestry of the Obolo people, foster unity among member Communities as well as brainstorm on development, peace and progress of the group.
Declaring the conference open, Awortu, an astute Lawyer attributed most crises in the area to disatisfactions arising from boundary adjustments adding that untill, traditional rulers begin to selflessly anchor boundary related decisions on truth, the challenge of communal unrest will continue to deprive the people of meaningful development.
“I want all of us to speak the truth about what we desire for the Obolo ethnic group and I also expect us to demonstrate same in our Communities because leadership is all about selflessness,” he said.
Empathizing with some Communities (Ama Zaaba) in Eastern Obolo, Akwa Ibom State, sacked several years due to lingering crises, the chairman urged traditional rulers to always ensure hat communal disputes were nipped in the bud to avoid unnecessary escalations and unrest.
“Our people in Eastern Obolo (Ama Zaaba) have been suffering for a long time, it’s not enough to say that we sympathize with them, we should also support them with relief materials and resources.
“We should learn to support our people, give them needed backing in addressing issues rather than allowing them to escalate into major crises and sometimes outright sack of Communities,” the chairman advised.
Awortu therefore, pledged his administration’s support while also urging the traditional rulers, pressure groups and religious bodies to take advantage of the conference to settle all pending land disputes in the area, according to him, peace is key to love, brotherhood and development.
“I may not know what happens in Eastern Obolo (Akwa Ibom State) but I know that Ngo town with about 12 adjoining Communities had yet to overcome boundary problems and sometimes it becomes very difficult to compel these Communities into reaching peaceful resolutions.
“The same goes for Asarama, Unyada and Egendem Communities where some traditional leaders have become highly recalcitrant in handling boundary disputes, sometimes I wander if they truly care about the loss of lives and possible outcomes of communal wars,” the Chairman said.
Earlier in his address, King Benson Egwenre, Paramount Ruler of Ataba Kingdom and Chairman, of the Oru Obolo Traditional Rulers Forum noted that the conference was expected to rekindle brotherly love amongst Communities.
He also noted that the conference would provide opportunity for members to deliberate on ways to ensure proper political placements, drive infrastructure development.
Application of the 13 per cent derivation from Oil revenue meant for host Communities and constitution of the group would form part of the communique