Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, Friday, told the people of Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area that the State Government would rebuild the School and Health Centre destroyed in the wake of the crisis that rocked the community after the killing of four military officers and 13 soldiers.

Governor Oborevwori disclosed this at a meeting with stakeholders from Okuama community and members of the Internally Displaced Persons Camp Management Committee at Government House, Asaba.

The governor who said his administration was committed to rebuilding the town in partnership with other stakeholders, called on those displaced by the Okuama crisis to relocate to the Internally Displaced Persons Camp at Ewu.

He said relocating to the camp would help to profile those affected, attend to their health needs and other social services, adding that no effort would be spared in championing peace and development on the community and charged indigenes of the town to uphold the ideals that would positively impact on their ancestral homes.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Secretary General of Ewu Kingdom, Pastor Edewor Egedegbe, described the Governor as a father and assured that they would prevail on their people to relocate to the IDP camp.

He said they were impressed with the support gotten from the governor and said the inclusion of two indigenes of the town into the IDP committee would help to identify those affected by the ugly incident that rocked the town

Egedegbe said: "I want to say a very big thank you to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for his fatherly heart he has displayed today. Its a dream come true that the much awaited peace of Okuama in Ewu kingdom has been struck.

"He spoke to us as a father, shared in our pains and he is determined to ensure that, that pain is assuaged as soon as possible. He has also assured us of the rebuilding process, to make sure that Okuama people do not have cause to regret again.

"On the point of the IDP camp, he has also shared light with us why it is critical that the people come to the IDP camp that is prepared for them. First, it will help to get people to attend to them and people who want to support willingly will come there and support them.

"He has assured us that it will not happen. He said that Okuama will be rebuilt but it is a matter of time. Those are reassuring words for us.

"As leaders from Ewu kingdom, we are going back to have a meeting with our people, all Okuama survivors, and we will tell them what the Governor has said and how he is committed to ensuring that all the necessary remedies are done.

"The Governor has also told us that the health center will be rebuilt side by side with the school immediately. That within three to four months it will be done; that is reassuring. So these are some of the take homes to reassure our people.

"We are also also going to prevail on our people to come to the IDP camp in Ewu; only the people that are affected. One of the reasons our people don't want to come to the IDP camp is that people want to highjack it.

"But the governor has listened to our plea and said that members from Okuama community be added to the IDP camp committee so that they will be able to identify the real Okuama people that were affected by the crisis. So a male and a female have been chosen to be added to the committee.

"We have also promised him that we will go and de-escalate tension as quickly as possible. We call on spirited individuals, non-governmental organisations to join hands with the government to help rebuild our community."

Chairman of the IDP Management Committee, Mr. Abraham Ogbodo, who also spoke to newsmen, said the camp was befitting and has the capacity to accommodate 1,700 persons and called on those affected to find their way to the camp for their health and social needs.

He said the state government has concluded plans for the award of the contract for building of a new health centre and a new school in Okuama community.

Ogbodo said: "The meeting with the governor is most fruitful because the governor addressed all of the issues. Most fears by the Okuama community were rested by the governor. Even though I have told them before that there was no need for those fears.

"The Governor himself has given them all the assurances of all the things that have been holding them from coming to the camp. So going forward, we are very prepared to receive them.

"We have the capacity to receive about two hundred people for a start and we have spare capacity to take even as much as 1,500 persons if need be. So we are fully ready."

•PHOTO: Delta Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (9th left), Commissioner for Information, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza (left), Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Pat Ajudua (2nd left), Chief of Staff Government House, Hon. Johnson Erijo (3rd left), Hon. Festus Utuama (5th left), Chairman, IDP Management Committee, Mr. Abraham Ogbodo (8th left), Secretary of the Committee, Chief Austin Emaduku (8th right), Leader, Okuama Community, Hon. Belvis Adogbo (9th right), Secretary General, Ewu Kingdom, Amb. Edewor Egedegbe (7th right) and others shortly after a meeting with the Governor at Government House, Asaba on Monday. PHOTO: SAMUEL JIBUNOR.

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