BY PATRICK MGBODO
The Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government, Chief Kelvin Ezenyili, yesterday, constituted a committee to settle the feud between traditional rulers in the area.
Recall that the Asagba of Asaba and the Akor of Oko, have been involved in a dispute over the payment of stipends to traditional rulers; a case which has been in court since 2019.
Obi Nwanze Oduah (Odogwu Ahaba), Rt. Hon. Peter Onwusanya, Ogbueshi Dada Okonji, Chief Patrick Ndili, Chief Leroy Edozien, Hon Shedrack Rapu, Chief Philip Nwoko, among others, represent the Asaba delegation in the committee.
On the other hand, Chief Dikedi Obusom, Chief Chiedu Ezenyili, Special Adviser to the Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor; Chief Uche Ugboma, and Mr Augustine Ani, among others, represent the Oko community in the committee.
Addressing the delegation, the Local Government Chairman said the committee’s terms of reference were to reconcile the dispute between the royal fathers, to determine the stipend due to each royal father based on defined templates and to ensure that the issue in contention was amicably resolved.
‘’The committee has held its inaugural meeting today (yesterday) and has adjourned to a future date to enable them to return and tinker on the way forward. However, I can confidently say that the matter has been resolved 60 per cent by the grace of God. We believe that in the next two sittings, we will reach a conclusion in favour of both communities and to the glory of God Almighty’’, he said.
On behalf of the Asaba community, the Odogwu of Asaba, who spoke through Chief (Prof) Leroy Edozien commended the local government chairman for the initiative to reconcile both traditional rulers, even as he stressed the need for the greater good of Oshimili South.
Likewise, Chief Uche Ugboma, who spoke for the Oko community, also commended the local government chairman for addressing the lingering dispute, stressing the mutuality between Asaba and Oko.
During the meeting, a minute of silence was observed to honour the memory of the 13th Asagba of Asaba, late HRM Obi (Prof) Chike Edozien.
