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Yoruba Council of Elders Sets Up Committee On Warri Crisis

Vanguard (Lagos)
NEWS
September 12, 2003
Posted to the web September 12, 2003

By Sina Babasola
Ibadan
DISTURBED by spate of violence in Niger Delta, the Yoruba Council of Elders
(YCE) has set up a committee on the Warri crisis to ascertain the situation on
the ground with a view to taking appropriate remedial measures.
The Assistant Secretary General of the Igbimo Agba Yoruba, Dr. Kunle Olajide
who dropped this hint in a statement on the Warri crisis said that the
committee led by the former secretary to the Oyo State Government (SSG) Dr.
Deji Raimi will visit Warri soon to determine "the YCE next line of action."
Dr. Olajide said, "the YCE is in contact with its third National Vice
President, Chief O.P. Edodo, a foremost Itsekiri leader; Chief (Mrs) Rita Lori-
Ogbebor, a frontline Itsekiri leader. We have mandated them to join hands with
the federal and state authorities to facilitate the return of peace to Warri
land."
According to him, "the desire of the YCE is that all hands must be on deck to
ensure that the Ijaws, the Urhobos, the Itsekiri and the Yorubas who have lived
harmoniously in the past should continue to live together as brothers and
sisters peacefully". While describing the alleged ultimatum issued to the
Yorubas in the city of Warri as "deep alarm," Dr. Olajide said, the YCE has
received assurances from the government of Delta State "on the safety of all
Yorubas in Warri and that there is no truth in the publication."
"We therefore urge the Yoruba community in Warri to remain calm whilst every
effort is being made by the authorities to ensure the return of peace to Warri
land."
"The Dejo Raimi-led committee of the YCE on Warri matters will visit Warri
soonest to determine the YCE next line of action and we urge the Federal
Government to actively intervene now to stop the crisis in Niger Delta region",
the YCE scribe said.

   

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