WHY OLEH, OZORO, EMEDE, IGBIDE etc MUST END COMMUNAL CRISIS: The recent loss of lives and properties among the subject communities in Isoko is unfortunate and condemnable. One begin to wonder why two Isoko Community will take up arms against each other rather than explore options for ethnic growth.

No community in Isoko or anywhere own land. Every land belongs to a family. Where there is a conflict over the ownership of land it should be the owners alone who should be involved in the dispute irrespective of whether the disputed land is in the borderline.

Ask yourself this simple question. When families sell land do they credit the entire community account with the proceeds of sale? They don’t! They keep everything and share same among family head, principal members and members of the family! So why drag an entire community into a crisis leading to the loss of lives and properties? Most times the families of those who are the original owner of the disputed area don’t get to loose their buildings or loved once. Why will families enjoy the asset derived from the land but drag the entire community into taking a piece of their liability. Asset and liability run together.

Going forward the two families or group of families should be allowed to go to court and prove their title to the land. The traditional rulers of both Communities must never allow their domain become a theatre of war. When their subjects have land disputes with another family from a neighboring community, it is for the traditional institutions to broker mediation effort and when mediation fail then they should encourage the disputants to approach a court of competent jurisdiction.

I understand the people of Oyede and Aviara have a common lake where they fish from in turn. This is the best option open to both warring parties with common ancestry. This approach has brought peace to Oyede and Aviara. It can be utilized and explored for other communities. This is where the traditional institutions have a greater role to play. Rather than railroading an entire community into communal crisis, traditional rulers can close rank and develop a win win option to avoid crisis.

As an ethnic group, the Isoko people cannot afford the cost of blood letting and destruction of properties. The psychological injury caused by such dastardly act will remain in the mind of our children from generations to come unless steps towards genuine and total restitution and reconciliation is carried out. I say this because as a people, the Isoko ethnic nationality need to be more committed to ethnic survival than engage in self destruction.

As at 1st October 1960 and January 14, 1966, Festus Okotie-Eboh an Itsekiri man was already a Finance Minister. Chief M.E.R. Okorodudu an Itsekiri man was a Commissioner in the Federal Public Service Commission. Another Itsekiri man, A.A. Ayida was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development, H.A. Ejueyitchie an Itsekiri man was Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport in 1965 to 1967. G.E Oki was an Ijaw man who served as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources. These are our geo-political neighbors in Delta State. In recent history, they have continued to advance the interest of their ethnic group without internal communal crisis. We should learn not to break our ranks from within.

It is now clear more than ever before that we need a common traditional ruler for the entire Isoko who will be the leading figure. The Soko of Isoko should be instituted and the Soko In Council will seat as Mediator where disputes remain unresolved before the option of litigation is activated. There is no moral justification for the madness we see today.

Emerhana Onoriode Paul, ACIArb (UK).