By Emeke Alexander
The people of Ekpan community in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State have applauded Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his interventions to put an end to the imbroglio surrounding the appointment of Community Liason Officers (CLOs) in the community.
In a letter to Governor Okowa made available to NewsNet, the people of Ekpan community under the umbrella of the Coalition of Ekpan Patriots Group (CEPG) applauded the Okowa administration for asking the community to let the status quo remain in the interim on the issue of CLOs.
In the letter signed by Olorogun Joe Amurun, Chairman, Ekpan Integrity Group/Coalition Ekpan Patriots Groups (CEPG) and Deacon M.E. Emewakeme, President, Ekpan Stakeholders Group (ESG), the people of Ekapn said, “We applaud your administration for this timely and pragmatic intervention in releasing the letter through the Director-General on Security Matters asking the community to let the status quo remain in the interim.
“That proactive step on the part of the government saved the community from witnessing another bloody orgy and/or a period of anarchy.
“We must profusely thank you sir for a well-done job.
“It shows the desire of your government towards ensuring and sustaining the present peaceful atmosphere in Ekpan.
“We totally align ourselves with your position and stand pending when the State Security Council will deem it necessary to look into the matter especially the criteria employed in CLOs selection.”
Despite the laudable decision by the state government to ensure peace in the Ekpan community regarding the appointment of CLOs, the Coalition of Ekpan Patriots Group (CEPG) said the peace initiative of the government is being thwarted by the action of self-seeking Unuevworos who have refused to yield to the wise counsel of government.
CEPG which also accused the leadership of the Ekpan Community in the lingering CLOs matter said, “Why is it happening so? It is because our Unuevworos didn’t do the needful hence they are having a tough time handling this CLO matter now due to the unfaithful and their biased mind employed in the selection of the CLOs which accommodated mostly their family members and cronies.
“The state government must as matter of urgency do something pragmatic regarding the leadership of Ekpan community that keeps fomenting crisis for government and security agencies to resolve every now and then instead of them being problem solvers, some of them have constituted themselves to be trouble makers.”
The group urged the government to ensure that its last letter from the office of the Director-General Security Matters is sustained.
Meanwhile, the letter from the Office of the Director-General Security Matters, Delta State, Hon David Tonwe, dated February 18, 2021, which was addressed to the Unuevworo of Ekpan, High Chief Peter Iffie and exclusively obtained by NewsNet reads below:
“The attention of the state government has been drawn to the recent unfortunate action by some group of youths representing Ekpan Community/Ekpan Development Committee who visited various companies operating in Ekpan Area and presented fresh nominees for immediate appointment as Community Liaison Officers.
“This action is capable of causing a serious breach to law and order and therefore surmounts the effort of the State Government in ensuring enduring peace within Effurun and environ. This, the State Government will not in any guise condone.
“Specifically, in order to avert any action inimical to peaceful coexistence within the communities, all parties are to maintain the status quo pending when all issues pertaining to the aforementioned are resolved at the State Security Council, where attention is already being given to matters arising thereto.”
