His Excellency
Sen. Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa
Executive Governor, Delta State
Government House, Asaba.
Dear Sir,
INCESSANT INCURSION AND INTERFERENCE OF THE PALACE AND CHIEFS OF OGHARA TRADITIONAL COUNCIL INTO THE LEADERSHIP, FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES OF YOUTHS IN OGHARA; A PATHWAY TO RIFT WHICH COULD LEAD TO A BREACH OF THE PEACE IN THE LAND
We write to you on behalf of the president and all members of Oghara Youth Association (OYA) from Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Council. Your Excellency Sir, we were recently made aware of a communiqué issued by the Oghara Traditional Council wherein they sat at the palace to deliberate on youth activities and equated the powers of a youth president to that of the king of the land and thereby proclaimed that the position of youth president stands abolished in Oghara. Your Excellency, attached to the letter is a copy of the communiqué as issued from the palace.
Sir, the above assertion by the palace is totally wrong. The existence of OYA is not alien to Oghara and indeed other kingdoms of Urhobo land wherein there exists youth presidents that superintends over activities of the various quarters of the kingdom from a central body. Hence, we have youth presidents in Jesse, Abraka, Agbor and other kingdoms of Urhobo land. Indeed, there is even a central body in Delta State where all youth leaders meet and deliberate on issues involving the youth, their activities and their welfare.
Your Excellency Sir, the case of Oghara youths is not different as obtained in other climes. The existence of the body over time has not been to lord over leadership of sub quarters in the land but rather to serve as a guide and foster unity amongst all the chairmen from the various quarters of Oghara kingdom. Their assertion that we do not respect our elders is false and we do not intend to over lord on the elders or take over from them as was alleged in the letter.
Sir, what we stand for is no more than having a forum for Governors of Nigeria or like the ALGON, which is a forum for Local Government Chairmen in the country. We are just a forum with collective voice. It is our unity that scares our chiefs hence they want us divided as they have sold all our patrimony and available lands in Oghara including lands ear marked for Government projects. They fear a revolt from the youths and feel that it will serve their selfish interest if we are gagged. But they are very wrong as we would not be intimidated in any way by their antics and we would consider the said communiqué the antics of meddlesome interlopers as someone not from an organization does not have the right to determine the fate of how that organization or forum is run.
Your Excellency Sir, we only write to intimate you that the constant interference of the palace to activities of youths could lead to a breach of the peace and as such a breakdown of law and order if they are not cautioned to put a stop to these interference. Oghara Youth Association as the slogan goes, remains in existence for peace, progress and unity of Oghara land. Thank you for Excellency.
Yours faithfully,
Comrade Favour Ededey
(Youth President, Oghara)
___________________
Barr. Kome Okoro
(Counsel to OYA)
cc:
Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu
Member Representing Ethiope West, DTHA
Chairman, Ethiope West Local Government Council
Divisional Police Headquarters, Oghara
Director, DSS, Oghara
