By NEFISHETU YAKUBU

The Edo House of Assembly on Wednesday directed warring factions over kingship issues in Ikpeshi community in Akoko-Edo to maintain status quo to avoid further bloodshed.

This order followed a meeting between the Ikpeshi community’s rival groups and lawmakers at the assembly complex in Benin

It would be recalled that the House summoned the factions after violent clashes over kingship and revenue collection, which led to the burning of the traditional ruler’s palace.

Mr Donald Okogbe, representing APC Akoko-Edo and Chairman of the Information Committee, told journalists that the local government had been directed to take over the collection of revenue but no decision had been taken on the kingship.

Okogbe urged both sides to embrace peace, warning that any further escalation would attract severe consequences from the state government and security agencies.

He stated that the assembly had directed both groups to ensure peaceful coexistence and maintain the current situation in the Ikpeshi community for now.

Earlier, the Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government Affairs, Mr Addeh Isibor, appreciated the leaders for attending the meeting.

Isibor, representing Esan North-East 1, told the groups that although decisions were yet to be taken but established the fact that Ikpeshi has a legally recognized traditional ruler.

He informed the factions that the 1979 Ikpeshi Community Declaration submitted to the assembly would guide the final resolution of the kingship crisis.

He emphasised that revenue collection was government’s duty and asked the local council chairman to immediately assume control over that responsibility in Ikpeshi.

Isibor also advised the community leaders to return home peacefully and continue to maintain status quo until the crisis was resolved.

Representing the state’s police commissioner, SP Elvis Uwagbaoje informed the assembly that the CP visited Ikpeshi to assess the extent of destruction caused by the violence.

The Olokpe of Okpe, Oba Okhishimede Eshimokhai Idogu III, who was at the meeting, said that there would not have been any crisis if the government had followed the recommendations of the Akoko-Edo Traditional Council on the issue. (NAN)