By: Morrison Kpazoo
Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Dr. Thomas Bariere, has assured the KAGOTE leadership and the people of Ogoniland of his administration’s commitment to establishing a permanent security infrastructure around the Yeghe-Uegwere boundary areas to guarantee lasting peace between the communities.
Dr. Thomas gave the assurance while joining other dignitaries and stakeholders from the four Local Government Areas of Ogoniland at a stakeholders’ and security meeting convened by the President of KAGOTE, Chief Lesi Maol, at the Khana Local Government Secretariat, Bori.
Speaking during the meeting, the Khana Council Chairman noted that the security concerns around Yeghe in Gokana Local Government Area and Uegwere Boue in Khana Local Government Area require the cooperation of both councils and the active involvement of community leaders.
According to him, discussions had already been held with leaders from both communities, who agreed on the need to establish a clearly defined boundary and put in place permanent security infrastructure in the area.
He said: “For Yeghe and Uegwere, you will agree with me that it has to do with two local governments, Khana and Gokana, which is why I am happy that KAGOTE is here today talking about this particular issue.”
The Council Boss further stated that he and his counterpart in Gokana Local Government Area, Confidence Deko, had engaged the leaders of the affected communities, adding that both sides had agreed on the urgent need for a clear-cut boundary and permanent security presence.
He assured KAGOTE that Khana Local Government Council would commit the resources within its disposal towards ensuring that adequate security infrastructure is established at the boundary locations.
“As Chairman of Khana, I am assuring KAGOTE that I will do everything within our disposal, that we will commit our resources at our disposal to ensure that security is established in those boundary locations so that there will be permanent peace,” he said.
“Today, in the presence of the Ogoni people, government has decided to take over all the land around those boundary areas so that infrastructure will be established, so that we have permanent peace. And that is the position of government,” Thomas added.
The development was widely welcomed by stakeholders at the meeting, who viewed the proposed measures as a significant step towards achieving permanent peace and strengthening security between the people of Yeghe in Gokana LGA and Uegwere Boue in Khana LGA.
