At last, the people of Ula Ikata community in Igbu Upata Kingdom in Ekpeye Ethnic Nation on Friday, June 1 returned to their ancestral home years after they deserted their community because of land dispute.
The Igbu Upata Kingdom monarch and Chairman, Ahoada East Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, Eze Igbu Upata III, HRM Eze Felix Enene Otuwarikpo while flagging off their return, regretted the massive destruction of properties as churches and other sacred places were not spared.
At a ceremony in the community to welcome home the people, Eze Otuwarikpo called for a peaceful co-existence and promised to assist in rebuilding houses of the most elderly male heads of the seven families that make up the community.
He however appealed to well meaning Nigerians, Non-governmental Organisations, National Emergency Management Agency, corporate institutions, United Nations humanitarian department, state and federal governments to come to the aid of the people for proper integration.
Warning against future crisis, he expressed happiness that his first commitment to reconcile feuding factions in Ula Ikata which was made on his coronation in September 2017, before Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State has been fulfilled.
An elated Eze stressed forcefully that “never again shall any part of the 21 towns and villages under my domain be allowed to go into regrettable crisis. Never again and this applies to all other parts of Ekpeye. We will resist retrogressive forces. It is to this that I will reach out to other Ezes in Ekpeye so we can bring back Odigwe people to their ancestral home.
“Never again, shall we cede any inch of Ekpeye land. We cannot surrender our liberty to anyone. I wish to assure all Nigerians that the Upata people elected me to defend Upata Kingdom. I will not compromise this solemn oath.”
While he decried the recent herdsmen attack on Ihuaba, an Upata community, Eze Otuwarikpo urged the youths to shun cultism and other vices for peace.
Speaking also, the Eze Ekpeye Logbo II, His Imperial Majesty, Eze Robinson Okparanwo Robinson, commended Eze Otuwarikpo for his resilience in ensuring that the warring factions embraced peace.
He informed however that the Ekpeye nation will henceforth resist trouble makers in order to create an enabling environment for investors.
In his remarks, Bishop Clement Ekpeye of the Ahoada Diocese, Anglican Communion, called on cultists to repent if they wish to escape the wrath of God.
In his solidarity speech, the President General of Uzugbani Ekpeye, Professor Dulu Appah, said the effects of the gathering must be positively noted because, according to him, no society thrives in crisis.
Hon.Edison Ogerenye Ehie, member representing Ahoada East Constituency II in the Rivers State House of Assembly reacted to Eze Otuwarikpo’s appeal by announcing a donation of #1m and also promised to reconstruct the community town hall and provide a good source of drinking water.
The ceremony attracted the likes of Professor S.J.S. Cookey, former vice chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt. Also in attendance were politicians, traditional rulers and leaders, captains of industries, clergies and corporate clients and practitioners. Highlights of the ceremony include traditional dances and rites.
