19 February 2014, Warri – Federal Government’s efforts at resolving the crisis in Ugborodo, Warri South- West Local Government, Delta State, were again scuttled, Monday, as the Dr. Alex Ideh/Tonwe faction boycotted the Abuja meeting billed for the final resolution of the impasse.
At the last mediation meeting penultimate Monday in Abuja, the Ideh/Tonwe faction had forced the Inspector General of Police /Chief of Naval Staff Peace Committee to shift the final resolution of the crisis by one week, when it appeared without its 10 nominees for the reconstituted contentious Ugborodo Interface Committee for the Export Processing Zone, EPZ, in Ogidigben.
At the rescheduled meeting, the final resolution was further aborted as the Ideh/Tonwe faction stayed away, sending Festus Keyamo, one of its lawyers to stand for it. A source at the meeting, told Vanguard that Keyamo’s appearance changed the tone of discussions to the displeasure of others present.
Keyamo told the mediation team and the Thomas Eriyitomi’s faction that they had lost confidence to continue to participate in the peace process and would rather go to court because one of their supporters, Olaja-Orori (Spiritual Leader) of Ogborodo remains under trial for charges arising from the crisis, while also re-echoing its disapproval of Delta State Government’s appointment of Austin Oborogbeyi as new EPZ Committee Chairman.
“The Eriyitomi camp responded that the arrest and ongoing trial of Olaja-Orori, Benson Omadeli and co, predates the unrest and hostilities of January 4 and 5, which led to the peace process. The IG, Mr Mohammed Abubakar and CNS, Rear Admiral Jibrin, who led the federal peace committee further stressed that the appointment of Oborogbeyi was not negotiable and should not constitute an issue of dispute,” a source at the meeting said.
– Vanguard