A non-governmental organization, Sustainable Eco6tem, weekend, made a lifesaving impact in the crisis ridden communities of Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South local government area and Aladja in Udu local government area of Delta state.
Executive director of the organization, Chibuikem Diala, said undermining the fear and tension in the affected communities, his team broke through to touch the lives of the people, some of whom have lost their means of livelihood in the more than one year crisis.
He said his group went to the area in partnership with Ugwoji Ochalibe Arubi Foundation to speak peace, present medical and material support to the war torn communities which have been having communal crisis for over a year.
The team after crossing the river to the war torn communities in Delta state. The road was blocked so they had to go through the river
He said though the way was rough as the road leading to the communities was blocked, his team had to enter the communities through the water using boat.
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He said three boats were engaged in the exercise. According to him, there was palpable fear in the minds of the people as over 80 percent of them do not have knowledge of water.
He added that the wave shook the boat but they were determined to sustain their vision and impact on the lives of the people.
He said they were committed to the single assignment of going to the other side and rendering help to the people in need.
The partnership foundation, Ugwoji Ochalibe Arubi Foundation was set up in 2013 to positively intervene, influence and affect the lives of people in communities within their reach.
The foundation seeks to bring out the latent potentials and talents in citizens so that they in turn could positively affect their communities and the world at large.
In doing this, he said it seeks to use different fora, platforms, processes and procedures in consonance with international best practices.
The team with Chibuikem Diala at the other end of the river
He said: “In line with its core mandate of touching lives and making them more meaningful, Ugwoji Ochalibe mobilized its partners to help alleviate the suffering of the people of war torn communities of Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh which have been locked in a battle over a piece of land. Lives and properties have been lost.
“Even two nights ago, a few hours to our visit to Aladja community, an Aladja man was murdered in his farm by alleged neighbors. Our trip was nearly truncated by these fears but we were not deterred as we insured our trip was for peace.
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“Our desire as an organisation was to see how we can influence help to these communities hence our visit.”
The team presented materials and medical services to the people. The items presented ran into millions of naira.
At the palace of the Ovie of Udu Kingdom Owhoru 1, Chibukem Diala revealed that the free medical outreach and material support for the displaced persons in Aladja was borne out of passion of the foundation to help put smiles on the faces of internally displaced persons in the communities who have being traumatised as a result of the communal dispute between Aladja, Ogbe- Ijoh and Isaba communities.
While appealing to Aladja community to forgive their neighbours, he maintained that peaceful co-existence cannot be over-emphasised as it is the panacea to sustainable development.
The team in a happy mood having crossed the river
While thanking the NGO for their magnanimity despite the economic recession, the Ovie of Udu Kingdom called on other philanthropic organisations to emulate the Ugwoji Ochalibe Arubi Foundation.
The president general of Aladja community, Elias Dogene, who was grateful to the foundation, revealed that Isaba and Ogbe-Ijoh communities have allegedly collaborated leading to killing of one 38-year-old-Kingsley Paya who went to farm on the 23rd of March 2017.
Dogene, who said the case has been reported to the DPO of Owian/ Aladja police station, called on the state government to a find possible solution to the crisis.
The Ugwoji Ochalibe Arubi Foundation is supported by NDDC, Renew Delta, Sustainable Eco6tem and Peace Arise.
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