NIGER DELTA DIALOGUES: PARAMOUNT RULER URGES GOVT TO IMPLEMENT WHITE PAPERS.

The Paramount Ruler of Abi Local Government Area in Cross River State, Ovai Elder Solomon Edward has blamed the unwillingness of the state government to implement its White Papers for the continuous Insecurity and wars among the communities of Bahumono in Abi Local Government Area.

Ovai Solomon made this accusation at a townhall meeting in his royal palace in Usumutong while receiving the Cross River State Policy Advocacy Committee which was in the area to interact with the people on the root causes of the persistent insecurity in Bahumono Kingston.

He said that the nine villages of Bahumono originated  from the same ancestors, speak the same language and have always intermarried amongst themselves in peace  and harmony. According to the Paramount Ruler, in 2006 a small misunderstanding between two lovers led to the complete obliteration of Ebijakara community by their Ebom neighbours. The government of Mr Donald Duke set up a high - powered Committee led by Chief Owali Inah to investigate the crisis. "The Committee turned in its report/ white paper, but till today, 13 years after, neither that government, nor that of Senator Liyel Imoke which followed or the present government of Senator Ben Ayade has implemented that  report."

He said in December of the same 2006 Ediba community went to war with Usumutong leading to the loss of many lives and property. The same government set up the Justice Michael Edem judicial inquiry, a report was submitted to it and till today nothing has been implemented. He accused successive governments of the State of paying lip service to peace and harmony amongst the people. " For 13 years the people of Ebijakara have been scattered all over the country and cannot go back to their ancestral land. There is mutual hatred and suspicion amongst the people of Bahumono because the truth is hidden inside those white papers which no government wants to implement."

He recalled that recently Ediba community attacked Usumutong again and destroyed several houses including his own palace and mansions belonging to its prominent sons and daughters. " All my years in Lagos I was working to build a befitting house for myself in the village, now it has been razed down and I am a tenant in my own community " he lamented.

Other people who spoke at the occasion included Catechist S.I. Irene, Chief Augustine Ebina, Ovai Eze Okpa, Evai Inyiko Inah and a woman leader, Mrs Eno Simon Okpa who lamented the plight of women in the area. " Because of war, no market is holding again, we can no longer sell our garri,  yams and other farm crops as no buyers are willing to come into a war zone to patronize us".

Members of the Cross River State Policy Advocacy Committee at the occasion included Rt. Honourable Itam Abang, Air Vice Marshal Eko Osim (rtd), Hon. Bassey Ekefre, the State Security Adviser (Central) Ransom Odey and Mr Dominic kidzu.

Niger Delta Dialogues in collaboration with AA Peaceworks with the sponsorship of the European Union have been investigating into the causes of insecurity in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria with a view to finding permanent solutions.