The Delta State Government has declared that it will not tolerate any community causing hostility or civil unrest.
Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme gave the warning on Tuesday in Asaba during separate meetings held with leaders from Ugboba and Obomkpa Communities in Aniocha North Local Government Area, and Issele-Asaba Community (Akpoma Quarters) in Aniocha North Local Government Area and Okpanam (Ogbeozoma and Amachai Quarters) in Oshimilli North Local Government Area.
He noted that security agents have the backing of the government to ensure that law and order are maintained in the communities.
He called on communities to maintain peace as government is determined to proffer lasting solutions to various boundary issues and land disputes across the state.
Onyeme who is also the chairman of the Delta State Boundary Committee, charged security agencies to ensure the maintenance of law and order across all communities in the state.
The deputy governor noted that it is the priority of the state government to ensure that peace prevails in all parts of the state.
“Government’s advice and instruction is for all to maintain the peace and we should not do anything that will increase tensions in the community while government will send its experts to look at the issue and find solutions to it.
“The cardinal point of the MORE Agenda of this administration is to enhance peace and security because when we achieve that, every other thing will follow.
“Without peace, there cannot be development, without peace, there cannot be opportunities; there cannot be reforms, except there is peace and security and as a government, we are very serious about achieving peace, Onyeme stated.
The deputy governor stated that the Delta State Boundary Committee’s technical team would within the next three weeks visit the Ugboba and Ogbomkpa communities, as well as the Issele-Asagba and Okpanam communities and look at the issues raised to ensure their quick resolutions.
“We will bring in our technical team to look at what you are saying; solution must be provided and that is what government is after. Every community wants peace and on government side, we want peace because that is the only way that we can move forward as a people.
“The fact that all parties involved have been writing to government for intervention shows that we all want solutions to the issues and solutions we must provide because we are all part of Delta State and if there is a problem in any part of the state, the state will not be settled.
“We did not come to governance just to sit down and watch our citizens start suffering. We are here to provide solutions to the challenges of our people and we are here to be fair to everybody.
“I want us to approach things with fairness and remain calm while we look for solutions to the issues at hand; we should be realistic about the existence of each other as a people.
“As a modern person, I cannot say that a kingdom that was created in the 13th century must remain, as it was created forever, society evolves and the only thing that is constant is change,” Onyeme said.
Also, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, who was represented by the Area Commander of Asaba, ACP Alex Udeze, advised all communities to maintain peace while the Delta State Government proffer solutions to all the issues at stake.
The police commissioner warned that security agents will not fail to enforce law and order and bring to book anyone trying to cause crises in the communities and the state at large.
Earlier in their various presentations, His Royal Majesty, Ezedinbu Nkebakwu III, the Obi of Ugboba and His Royal Majesty, Obi Onyemechi Kanyinaga, the Obi of Ogbomkpa, commended government for initiating the meeting and appealed to the state government to intervene by urgently addressing the issues affecting both communities.
They assured government of maintaining peace in their various communities while also enjoining government to find lasting solutions to the issues raised.
Also, Prince Austin Ugboma, who spoke on behalf of Issele-Asagba community and Mr Joseph Okolie, who spoke on behalf of Okpanam community assured the state government of their communities’ commitment to maintaining peace and ensuring their collaboration with the state government to find a lasting solution to the boundary disputes between the two communities.