By SAMUEL ESE
YENAGOA (Sundiata Post) – The gubernatorial candidate of the Accord Party in the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State, Warmate Jones Idikio, has called for peace in crisis-torn Opu-Nembe kingdom.
Idikio, who is also the Director-General of the Yenagoa Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (YECCIMA), expressed concern that the absence of peace in Opu-Nembe was critical for economic development of the state.
In a statement made available to journalists in Yenagoa on Tuesday, he stressed that the dislocation of peace in Opu-Nembe would unduly impact the entire state.
“The restoration of peace in Opu-Nembe kingdom, and Nembe in general is critical for the economic development of Bayelsa State.
“Any dislocation of peace in Opu-Nembe or any other part of the state at this time especially or anytime at all, would unduly impact the entire state,” he stated.
He “therefore called on the Council of Chiefs and all the people of Opu-Nembe including personalities and all other well meaning persons across the state to help resolve, fashion out and support efforts to restore and support the sustained peace in the kingdom.”
Idikio extended his sincere and deepest condolences to families who may have lost loved ones and prayed for the early return of those who had fled their homes in the face of the crisis.
The trouble in Bassambiri, Opu-Nembe was caused supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) who wanted political control of the oil rich kingdom.
Rival supporters chased opposition members out of Opu-Nembe which resulted in death and injuries and even journalists who went on fact finding were attacked, beaten and their gadgets seized.
The crisis is reminiscent of the 2019 violent confrontation between PDP and APC supporters in Nembe-Ogbolomabiri, just across the creek from Opu-Nembe, during the governorship campaigns.
Even then, as at now, both political parties traded blames for the violence and real peace has yet to be entrenched in the Nembe area of the state due to fears of violence during any political cycle.
