‘Communal conflict driving over 5,000 Ekporo community people into extinction’
The Ekporo indigenous people in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State have been locked in communal conflict with their neighboring Ogun community in Ogu-Bolo LGA. The people estimated to be over 5,000 are now refugees in other Rivers communities following their sack from their homeland since 2013, without government intervention for the peaceful settlement. Worried by the pitiable condition of the displaced people, Rt. Rev. Moses Kattey, the general overseer of Commonwealth Covenant Church International, Alode-Eleme and state coordinator for Trans-Atlantic and Pacific Alliance of Churches (TAPAC), is asking for government’s urgent intervention. In this interview with our correspondent, GODWIN EGBA in Port Harcourt, he voices out his frustration over his efforts in trying to get the intervention of Rivers State and Federal Government. Excerpts:
One of your communities, Okposo, has been deserted by its people for close to five years now, following a communal conflict between them and their Ogu neighboring community; as an ambassador of Christ, what role have you played so far toward bringing peace between the two communities?
Well, I must make it clear that I’m very much concerned about the crises between my Ekporo and Ogu people, not because I’m an Eleme man. I represent the interest of all people spiritually, irrespective of their different origins. I can show similar concern for either Ikwerre, Kalabari, Ogoni or other people in Rivers State if they are in crises with each other. Jesus Christ preached peace and died not only for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles
How are you privy to the crises?
The Ekporo and Ogu communities have been in crises over the years because of the land boundary dispute, which resulted in bloody attacks; and the Ekporos were chased out of their homes. Unfortunately, till date, no constituted external authorities or bodies have deemed it necessary to initiate peaceful resolution between them. And since then, the weaker victims (Ekporos) have been wandering about as refugees in different communities in the state. They can’t go back because their houses and properties are all destroyed.
Are you saying that the past and present governments of Rivers State are unaware of the lingering crises, or they are simply insensitive?
Ha! it baffles me o. I’m lost because we are a society governed by governors, the Presidency, National Assembly, Local Government authorities, the Judiciary and what have you. Yet they sit in their comfort zones, watching two people or two communities tearing themselves apart in a fight or crises, without care to call them to order for peace. Where are the Army, the police and other constituted authorities in Rivers State; and Nigerians in general?
Is it possible to say that government has been adamant?
No, I would not allude to that. However, I find it hard to imagine that in this democratic dispensation being embraced worldwide, over 5,000 people of an indigenous community such as Ekporo, would be sacked from their homeland because of man-made crises, or call it disaster and government or authorities of that federated crime can comfortably turn deaf ears without enforcing a peaceful resolution.
You are sounding disappointed, what is your personal effort and frustration?
Hmm, I personally have written over 80 registered petitions to authorities that matter, from the Rivers State Council of Chiefs to the State and Federal Government, begging them for their intervention in the matter. My petitions are everywhere, including all other bodies I mentioned earlier, but my cry is like that of a caring dove in a community of careless animal kingdom.
Why do you feel so strong as that?
Why not! Even if it’s two mad people fighting in the open market square, there are many people out there who would not stand there as careless spectators. They would be moved to come forth to separate and settle them for peace sake. Why should Ekporo-Ogu crises be a careless consumable case? Come to think of it, even the military government was always handy to settle conflicts in other West African countries like Liberia, The Gambia. Even democratic government goes for peace-keeping in other countries. So why should its own internal communal conflict in Ekporo-Ogu be treated with a wave-off of the hand by the government?
How would you describe the level of suffering the displaced Ekporos are passing through for some years now?
Ekporo as a community is a voting ward that is made up of 10 wards in Eleme Local Government Area, with well over 5,000 indigenous people, apart from a number of non-indigenes living among them, doing one business or the other. The people have been sacked; their houses, property and other socio-economic belongings destroyed. Some of them lost their lives in the heat of attacks including a counselor. Those that survived are the ones living as refugees with psychological trauma, hunger, sickness and unimaginable distress breaking down their hope for the future.
Bishop, Ekporo as a community has some illustrious sons like Chief Precious Ngalale, a one-time federal minister of Water Resources under the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo. Suffice it to say that he is also an appendage of the larger system that has turned deaf ears to the plight of his own people?
I don’t agree with that allusion; my reason being that Ngalale is also at the receiving end of the conflict. He is an Ekporo man, and by implication, an Ekporo man and an Ogu man cannot come out to agree on a peaceful settlement. That is not the best approach to conflict resolution. The resolution is achievable when external arbiters wade into such crises. That is the responsibility of government. You journalists, lawyers, church leaders and security authorities should be involved. The Ekporos and Ogus are the ones in conflict; they cannot initiate and make a commonly acceptable peace among themselves. I insist, out of wisdom, external pacemakers should come into the matter.
So what is your fervent prayer now?
I and my church members have taken it up as our burden to hold a monthly prayer for the people, to be resettled back in their homeland. God will bless the man or woman, irrespective of the position that would see that the people regain their freedom back to their land.
Have you made an attempt to call for a settlement committee to that effect?
Not in my position, my way is to keep praying to achieve my desired result or expectation. I understand the Eleme Local Government care-taker-committee (CTC) chairman, has set up a committee to that effect; but I’m not privy to the terms of reference. The best they can achieve is to see the people receive adequate care pending final resolution by external concerned authorities that would guarantee their peaceful return journey back to their desolate community land.
What would their expectation be like on the God’s appointed day of their journey back home?
Well, it’s going to be another new beginning in settling down to work for survival through farming and struggle to have roofs over their heads. The path to their socio-economic integration looks tortuous, but our God that did not forsake them in their days as refugees in other communities would give them a comfortable re-integration. One other shocking development is that while these people are in exile, a Federal Government college has been cited in their land bearing Ogu, as written on the signboard. Does that suggest that the people’s land has been confiscated, and without their consent, compensation or what?
What is your fear? Do you think that to the people it is a loss of their land?
No, that can’t be because we are in prayer for peace to reign above further crises. We ensure that the youths do not take up arms. But all that seems not to mean anything to the government; not until the youths rise up in protest, then you would see the Army and police in action. I’m not, at all, comfortable or in agreement with a fire-brigade approach to two persons or group of persons in conflict. It’s not the best, may God help us.
