Value Rebirth/Human Rights Advocate, VRHRA, has decried the plight of the people of Okuama community.
The Coordinator of VRHRA, Amb. Edewor Egedegbe, stated this while speaking on the situation in Okuama during a TV programme, ‘Niger Delta Today,’ on Advocate Broadcasting Network (ADBN).
Speaking on concerns that Okuama community leaders and others have remained in military detention for more than two years, he blasted the federal and Delta State governments, as well as the National Assembly, for abandoning them, especially as there has been no feedback from the institutions of government responsible for their detention.
According to him, all attempts they have made to reach out to the Governor of Delta State to express their concerns have been futile.
“That is the most worrisome to me. The truth is, government and leadership are about empathy. As the situation of Okuama people remains pathetic, we need to talk to those in charge of government because we are under the government.
“As bona fide citizens, if there are issues, just as we have in Okuama, to whom do we cry? Is it not the government? But as it is now, we don’t have access to our government as I speak. If you journalists can help us gain access to the government, please offer us that help.”
He appealed to the Governor of Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to grant them an audience, stating that failure to do so would amount to undermining the plight of the people of Okuama.
“We are saying to the governor: grant us access to talk to you. Our people are in detention, and we don’t have access to them. The army, which by law does not have the right to continuously hold Okuama people in detention facilities, just as it does not have the right to prosecute them, is perpetually keeping our people in detention and does not grant us the privilege to see them. It is right to say that if the governor can have access to them, let him tell us what the authorities are saying about this matter.
“On the other hand, if there is prima facie evidence against our people—Prof. Arthur Ekpekpor, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Dennis Amalaka, and Mabel Owemu (one of them, James Oghorokor, reportedly died in detention)—let the army produce them in court to face their charges and allow the rule of law to take its course in this lingering matter.
“So, what I am saying is that we need an update on our people, but we are not getting it. We are really worried about this development. There is not much we can say other than to tell the public, through your platform, the true plight of our people who are living in a pitiable condition in Okuama community. In short, our people are living in trenches; there is no doubt about that.
“It will surprise you to hear that a hall with more than 40 rooms, built by the Governor of Delta State in collaboration with the chairman of Ughelli South LGA, is where over a thousand people are resting their heads. You can imagine the horrible situation they are facing. I candidly request that you visit the Okuama community to see the state of things.
“Let me re-emphasise that apart from the thatched houses standing in the community, which serve as homes for some people, the rest of the Okuama people are residing in that one hall built by the government. The primary school that has been built has no chairs to commence teaching, so the children of Okuama have not gone to school in the past two years, through no fault of theirs, and we say we are in a democracy?
“I do know that things can be done better. I am calling on the governor of Delta State and other arms of government to understand that the essence of governance is to protect lives and property, not the other way round. Anything less than that is unacceptable in a democratic setting.
“We are not under military rule where dictatorship is the order of the day. We are crying out to the Nigerian government, headed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Governor of Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the senators, and members of the House of Representatives, that they have not done well by us, to say the least. They may have tried their best, but it is not good enough for us.
“In short, we are taken aback that our people are languishing in military detention facilities for 20 months over a matter that is already in court. Even court orders have been issued and served on the relevant government agencies, yet they have remained adamant. Such disregard for court orders leaves much to be desired in a democratic system.”
When asked about the current situation in Okuama and the immediate expectations of the people, he said:
“Simply put, the expectations of the people of Okuama are to see the government come to their aid. Today, Okuama is almost becoming history—a narrative we strongly reject. The people are calling on the government to rebuild Okuama. First and foremost, the Okuama leaders in military detention should be released, as they know nothing about the allegations. However, if the army has proof that they are complicit, let them be tried through the appropriate legal channels—not kept in detention indefinitely.
“One person has died, and another was at the point of death before being released to Senator Ede Dafinone. We do not know the condition of the others. So, we want them released as soon as possible, or if they are to be tried, let the police take over the case and prosecute them in a competent court of law.
“At this juncture, let me set the record straight: out of the five persons in detention, two are not connected to Okuama. One of them, Dennis Amalaka, is a tenant of the late President of Okuama, James Oghorokor. Dennis was arrested alongside him at his residence. Also, Mabel Owemu was arrested alongside Prof. Arthur Ekpekpor. Those from Okuama are the President-General of the Ewu Clan Development Forum, Prof. Arthur Ekpekpor, Chief Belvis Adogbo, and James Oghorokor, now deceased.”
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