BY GODWIN IJEDIOGOR
DELTA State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, on Friday, May 24, has assured the people of Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Council that the state government would rebuild the school and health centre destroyed by the military in the wake of the crisis that rocked the community, following the killing of four military officers and 13 soldiers there.
Oborevwori, who disclosed this at a meeting with stakeholders from community and members of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp Management Committee at Government House, Asaba, said his administration was committed to rebuilding the town, in partnership with other stakeholders, urging those displaced by the crisis to relocate to the IDPs Camp at Ewu.
The governor stated that relocating to the camp would help to profile those affected, attend to their health needs and other social services, adding that no effort would be spared in championing peace and development in the community, even as he charged indigenes to uphold the ideals that would positively impact on their ancestral homes.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Secretary General of Ewu Kingdom, Mr. Edewor Egedegbe, described Oborevwori as a father, assuring that they would prevail on their people to relocate to the IDP Camp.
He said the delegation was impressed with the support so far received from the governor, noting that the inclusion of two indigenes of the town in the IDP committee would help identify those affected by the incident.
Egedegbe said: “I want to say a very big thank you to His Excellency for his fatherly heart he has displayed today. Its a dream come true that the much-awaited peace of Okuama in Ewu Kingdom has been struck.
“He spoke to us as a father, shared in our pains and is determined to ensure that that pain is assuaged as soon as possible.
“He has also assured us of the rebuilding process, to make sure that Okuama people do not have cause to regret again.”
He added: “On the point of the IDP camp, he has shed light on why it is critical that the people come to the IDP camp prepared for them. First, it will help to get people to attend to them and those who want to support willingly will come there and support them.
“He has assured us that it will not happen again. He said that Okuama will be rebuilt, but that it is a matter of time. Those are reassuring words for us.
“As leaders from Ewu Kingdom, we are going back to have a meeting with our people, all Okuama survivors, and we will tell them what the governor has said and how he is committed to ensuring that all the necessary remedies are done.
“The governor has also told us that the health centre will be rebuilt, side by side with the school immediately, that within three to four months, it will be done. That is reassuring. These are some of the take homes to reassure our people.
“We are also also going to prevail on our people to come to the IDP camp in Ewu; only the people that are affected. One of the reasons our people don’t want to come to the IDP camp is that people wanted to hijack it.
“But the governor has listened to our plea and said that members from Okuama community be added to the IDP camp committee, so that they will be able to identify the real Okuama people affected by the crisis. So, a male and a female have been chosen to be added to the committee.
“We have also promised him that we will go and de-escalate tension as quickly as possible. We call on spirited individuals, non-governmental organisations to join hands with the government to help rebuild our community.”
Chairman of the IDP Management Committee, Mr. Abraham Ogbodo, told journalists that the camp was befitting and has the capacity to accommodate 1,700 persons, calling on those affected to find their way to the camp for their health and social needs.
Ogbodo said the state government has concluded plans to award contract for the building of a new health centre and a new school in Okuama community.
He added: “The meeting with the governor is most fruitful, because he addressed all of the issues. Most fears by the Okuama community were rested by the governor, even though I have told them before that there was no need for those fears.
“The governor himself has given them all the assurances of all the things that have been holding them from coming to the camp. So, going forward, we are very prepared to receive them.
“We have the capacity to receive about 200 people for a start and we have spare capacity to take even as much as 1,500 persons, if need be. So, we are fully ready.”
