ASABA- The lingering bloody communal crises between Aladja community in Udu local government Area and Ogbe-Ijoh community in Warri South West local government Area both in Delta state may soon come to an end as the long awaited white paper on the crisis is now ready to be read to both warring communities.
Delta State governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa made this revelation in Asaba today ( Monday) during the 2017 quarterly media interaction with journalists in the state.
Governor Okowa said though he had to take a lot of things into consideration before his government could come out with the white paper, he lamented that youths in both communities have taken over leadership from the elders.
“This crisis between these two communities have been going on for ages. You cannot just take decisions anyhow. We are taken several steps to restore peace to both communities and I can assure you that government has always been proactive when it comes to the crisis between the Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja communities,” Okowa said.
The governor appealed to both communities to sheath their swords, stressing that it was now up to both communities to decide whether they want peace or not.
“The white paper may not be able to resolve the age long crisis between both communities. But as a government we must do our part and it’s left for the communities to decide whether they want peace or not. I want to appeal to the youths to give peace a chance because once we have come out with the white paper, we are going to deploy security agents to both communities,” Okowa said.
On workers salaries, governor Okowa reiterated that his government was not owing workers in the state. He promised workers in the state that their December salaries will be paid this week.
Governor Okowa who was not happy when he was told that some of his commissioners were evading journalists said any commissioner evading journalists was doing his government a disservice.
“I don’t see any reason why any commissioner will be evading journalists. They are supposed to explain government activities to journalists any time they are called upon. Any of my commissioners who is evading journalists is doing the government a disservice. My commissioners should be able to defend my programs,” Okowa said.
