The search for return of peace to Evwreni kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State took the front burner at the weekend as hundreds of sons and daughters of the kingdom converged at the community town hall to further discuss ways at which the warring factions could sheath their swords and embrace peace.
The peace meeting, attended by a large crowd of indigenes, including men and women, young and the elderly, was at the instance of the Ovie of the kingdom, HRM Oghenekevwe Kumane Eruvwedede III, in collaboration with the Special Adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Special Duties, Hon Samuel Mariere. The meeting also received the blessings of other stakeholders from far and near.
The conveners and others who spoke at the meeting were emphatic that ‘for over two years now, peace had eluded the Evwreni community’ with no thanks to few sundry issues that pushed brothers to take up arms against one another.
They recalled that Evwreni was until recent times, a famous commmunity that produced great men and women in the defunct Midwest State.
They wondered why issues, such as the setting up of community vigilante outfit, Youth Wing elections and surveillance contracts for an oil firm could tear the people apart to the extent of taking arms against one another with record of deaths, and destruction of valuable properties.
The long trek for an amicable end to the problem took the Evwreni Crisis Resolution and Peace Committee, led by a foremost business mogul, politician and an Indigene of the town, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor to the Government House, Asaba to seek audience with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, where they appealed for the setting up of a Judicial Panel of Enquiry to look into the remote and immediate causes of the crisis.
The Ovie of the kingdom, Oghenekevwe Kumane Eruvwedede III, in his emotion laden speech at the weekend meeting in Evwreni, expressed optimism that the state government would act accordingly, saying that no king would be happy when his kingdom is embroiled in crisis.
Stressing that the way forward is to forgive one another, the Monarch regretted the crisis and disclosed that some committees have been raised to reactivate the Olorogun O’tega Emerhor led committee and to meet with aggrieved subjects towards embracing peace.
Addressing the large crowd, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Hon Samuel Mariere, said the Olorogun O’tega Emerhor led committee had been working tirelessly to achieve return of permanent peace to Evwreni kingdom, saying that there was the need to step up further efforts towards timely realization of the set goal.
Hon Mariere disclosed that the meeting was conveyed to open up more discussions on issues of common destiny and the need to end the over two- year crisis that had retarded development and harmonious coexistence among the people.
The former Lawmaker stated that he never supported the crisis or ever bought arms for anyone, saying that his continued intervention was to ensure peace, respect for rule of law and constituted authority in Evwreni, even as he passionately appealed to aggrieved individuals to forgive one another and embrace peace.
He stressed the need for all warring groups to drop their arms and allow the police to take charge of security of the town. He noted that the community can not afford further deaths and destruction of properties.
Hon Mariere said all stakeholders must come together in love and unity to restore the lost glory of Evwreni kingdom.
The Secretary of the Evwreni Vigilante outfit, Mr Hitlar commended the efforts of the people to seek ways forward and assured that his group was ready to lay down their arms. He urged the law enforcement agencies to ensure that the other factions to the crisis do same.