The leadership of the Delta State Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum has called on Traditional Rulers in the state to wade into the ongoing dispute between immediate past Governor of the state, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark.
The call was made yesterday during their visit at the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Maj. Gen. Felix Mujakperuo (rtd), Orhue I and Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council at his Palace in Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government Area of the state.
The group, which is the governing Council of Ika, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko, Ndokwa, Oshimili and Urhobo was led by Comrade Isaac Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, President of the Itsekiri National Youth Council.
Agbateyiniro told the monarch that the youth leaders were in his Palace to congratulate him on his emergence as the Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and to call the attention of the Orodje of Okpe and indeed his entire Council members to the displeasing news in the media over the interview granted recently by the Ijaw elder statesman, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.
The elder statesman raised allegations on the embezzlement of funds due to the oil producing communities in Delta State and a purported petition to the EFCC against the immediate past Governor of the State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.
Comrade Agbateyiniro said that the youths took it upon themselves to embark on this visit to call on the Orodje of Okpe and other traditional rulers to intervene by appealing to His Royal Majesty, the Obi of Owa to appeal to his people not do anything that could escalate the issue as being planned.
According to him, it is being rumoured that the Ika Nation were putting in place a team not only to respond to Chief E.K. Clark but profile all the Ijaw leaders that have held offices in the State and Nation.
“They intend to raise questions about their stewardship and to possibly raise petitions against them as they won’t sit back and watch their very pride, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa being harassed in the media and with anti graft agencies,” he said.
Agbateyiniro emphasized that there was need to sustain the unity and ethnic cohesion within the State.
“Your Majesty, our visit therefore is to formally inform you about the threat and dangers the above may cause our State if not urgently addressed as it has potential to undermine the unity, harmony, social cohesion and peaceful coexistence within the State,” Agbateyiniro stated.
In his response, the Orodje of Okpe commended the youth leaders for finding time to visit his Palace and for the wisdom to reach out to them for intervention in order to save the state from another round of inter ethnic hostility and distrust.
He said that the royal fathers were equally disturbed by the actions of the elder statesman and promised to immediately convene an emergency meeting of the traditional rulers council with a view to intervening on the issue.
Comrade Godspower Enerho, President of the Urhobo Youth Council thanked the monarch for the audience and assured him of the group’s readiness to partner with the Council whenever the need arises.
