Edo Speaker Wades into Gelegele Crisis, Seeks Oba’s Intervention

Edo Speaker Wades into Gelegele Crisis, Seeks Oba’s Intervention

The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chief Blessing Sheriff Agbebaku, on Wednesday addressed protesters and promised to resolve the lingering crisis between indigenous Edos and Ijaws in Gelegele and Ughoton communities in Ovia North East LGA.

The Speaker, who received Edo youths that staged a peaceful protest to the Assembly complex, urged them not to take the law into their hands and to remain law-abiding. He noted that the Governor, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo, is a peaceful and law-abiding leader committed to justice.

Rt. Hon. Agbebaku said consultations would be held with the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, to get to the root of the dispute.

He further advised the protesters to pursue their grievances through legal channels and to forward a petition to the House through their representative, Hon. Andrew Uzamere Osadolor, member representing Ovia North East II.

Earlier, the spokesman for the group, Mr. Uwadiae, alleged frequent attacks on indigenes by Ijaw residents in the community. He recalled the installation of an Odionwere in Gelegele by Oba Erediauwa in 2014, and said there was a recent attack in which cars and other properties were burnt, with one person allegedly killed. He added that the Odionwere has since fled the community.

Mr. Uwadiae appealed for the return of the Odionwere and called on the state government to enforce the 1983 Supreme Court judgment which held that “Gelegele and its environs, including Ughoton community, belong to the Oba of Benin.”

Members who accompanied the Speaker in receiving the protesters were Hon. Sunday Aghedo, Hon. Charity Aiguobarueghian, Hon. Andrew Uzamere Osadolor, and Hon. Ahmed Oshomah.