Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, has criticised the roles of leaders of two Ogoni communities in a violent clash that have claimed many lives and property.
Odili expressed disappointment at the involvement of the community leaders at a special session with them in Government House, according to a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Emma Okah, and made available to our correspondent on Tuesday.
The governor said he was worried over the level of destruction in Mogho community and the gradual return of violence and destruction, which had virtually died down at the inception of civilian administration in the state in 1999.
Odili said, �I stand here before you as an unhappy man; a man who is disappointed at how you have allowed yourselves to be agents of destruction of your communities. I must say that this is totally unacceptable and unjustified.
�What do you achieve when you destroy someone. When you destroy a man, do you inherit his property or take his position?�
Describing the destruction of Mogho/Bodo communities and the displacement of the natives as unfortunate, Odili drew the attention of the people to the events which had taken place in Ogoni land in the last 13 years and asked them to learn from such occurrences.
�I want all of you to see yourselves as agents of God and seek true peace and reconciliation,� he said.
He attributed the breakdown of law and order in the affected communities to the failure of their leaders to uphold community spirit and tradition.
The President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, Mr. Ledum Mitee, asked the warring communities to sink their differences and embrace peace.
Mitee noted that the people of Ogoni had seen enough trouble and were now advocating for peace and dialogue at all levels to move the area forward.
He, however, appealed to the state government to send relief materials to the victims.