[allAfrica.com]  [Africa_2004]


Ijaw Ready to Dialogue With Itsekiri- Clark

Vanguard (Lagos)
NEWS
July 27, 2004
Posted to the web July 28, 2004

By Osaro Okhomina
Warri
IJAW National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has declared that the Ijaw are ready
to dialogue with the Itsekiri ethnic group, if only the proper machinery is put
in place for a sincere and equitable resolution of the contentious issues
bothering the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic groups in Warri.
According to Chief Clark, though the Ijaw nation rejected the earlier signed
accord based on noticeable anomaly, they are saddened that a proper peace
accord could not be initiated by the state government in the interest of peace
and development of Warri and to solve the increasing cases of socio-economic
deprivation among the residents.
Chief Clark, while receiving the British High Commissioner, Sir Richard Gozney
in his hometown, Kiagbodo, last weekend, said the Ijaw are ready to settle the
ethnic conflict with the Itsekiri leaders if issues of the creation of separate
local councils, delineation of wards and the chairmanship of the three Warri
local councils are part of the agenda between the Ijaw and Itsekiri groups.
He said, "we are honoured by the concern, you the British, have shown in the
people of Warri and the state. We promise that the crisis will come to an end
since the state government is doing all possible to resolve the crisis. I am
equally saddened that even at the time the state and federal governments were
doing very little in resolving the crisis, we were pained that it is an ill-
wind that blew nobody any good and that is why it must stop.
"Apart from the effect it has on the three combatants in Warri, it has created
a very poor economic situation in the area and has badly affected the operation
of the oil companies causing a relocation spree which has landed most youths
and residents in problem. It even created an avenue for rumour on the
relocation of the SPDC to Port Harcourt. We want you to assist in prevailing on
them not to take such decision and they should employ more of the youths in the
oil-producing areas to reduce cases of criminal behaviour among the youths."
On the reason for the rejection of the peace accord by the Ijaw leadership,
Clark told the British High Commissioner that they were dissatisfied by the
one-sided peace accord which he added failed to address the main issues of a
separate local council, ward delineation and Chairmanship of councils for the
Ijaw, Uhrobo and Isekiri ethnic groups.
"The agreement was one- sided, unjust and failed to address the real issues
simply those of separate councils, proper ward creation to redress the
imbalance and chairmanship of councils. The agreement signed by these people
mainly emphasized on the adherence to court judgements which has been the
Itsekiri trump card at all meetings including those with the former Head of
State, Abdusalami Abubakar, Gen. Danjuma Committee and President Obasanjo.
"Our response has been a total rejection of these fraudulent judgements.These
judgement purportedly won by the Itsekiri condemned the Ijaws as perpetual
tenants in Warri under the lordship of the Olu of Warri and this is
unacceptable to majority of Ijaw of Warri."

   

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