Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Muhammed Ali, has asked the various parties involved on the issue of appointment of Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) especially in Ekpan community of Uvwie Local Government Area of the state to maintain the status quo pending the outcome of the State Security Council on the matter, NewsNet has learnt.
A source who does not want his name to be mentioned told NewsNet that through a letter of invitation by the Delta State Command dated August 3, 2021, some of the interested parties in the CLO issue met with CP Ali on Thursday at the Force headquarters in Asaba, the state capital.
According to the source those who honoured the police invitation include the Vice Chairman of Uvwie Local Government, representatives of companies like Nestoil, PPMC, HiTech and Jaad Construction Ltd.
A delegation which was supposed to be led by the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Sideso comprising Chief Jimoh Eshenake, Chief Henry Orumeji, Chief Iffie and Mr Victory Nanakparo to meeting it was gathered failed to show up.
The Delta police boss was said to have told the parties involved in the CLO dispute to abide by the position of the State Security Council which was expressly made known through the Director-General, Delta State Security, Hon David Tonwe, in a letter dated February 18, 2021, and was addressed to the Unuevworo of Ekpan, High Chief Peter Iffie.
The CP insisted that the position of the government that communities should maintain the status quo on the issue of CLOs in order to avert any action inimical to peaceful coexistence within the communities as contained in the letter subsists.
He enjoined the companies in the area to work with the existing CLOs and freely go about their operations without fear of intimidation.
He, therefore, asked aggrieved persons to be patient for the government resolution on the matter or seek legal redress rather than causing a breach of peace in the area.
Meanwhile, an activist, Mr Terry Moses Ariuruje, of the Voice of the Voiceless has urged the traditional institution in Uvwie Kingdom to respect the position of the Delta State Government on the issue of Community Liaison Officers of companies operating in the area.
Mr Ariuruje, who said this in Asaba while briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting between the CP, Ekpan Community Liaison Officers and other stakeholders opined that the issue at stake had been addressed by the state government, which directed that the serving CLOs be allowed to remain in office to avert a breakdown of law and order.
He commended the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for promptly wading into the matter to halt the ensuing crisis over the CLOs dispute.
