The Ovie of Uvwie in Council(the Exco of Ogwuedion) has recognized the existence of DDPA Estate Community as a distinct community in Uvwie Local Government Area(LGA) just as it re-affirmed earlier proclamation and recognition of the existence of Ugboridjo community and its powers under the law to create administrative units for peace and development of the Kingdom
It also pointed out that the traditional administration under the Delta state Traditional Rulers and Chieftaincy Law 2008 as amended vested the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom and its traditional council powers to recognize any section or group of persons as leaders or representatives.
Furthermore, Ovie in Council stressed that development committee should only be constituted by persons who reside or carry on business within a defined geographical area for the improvement of living a good environmental condition and not lynch pads of illegal levies or collections or other exercise of overlordship rights
In the traditional arbitration court of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom which held today(15/5/2025) at the palace of HRM Dr. Emmanuel Ekemejewa Sideso, Abe 1, JP, OON, in the matter of communal dispute between Ugborikoko and Ugboridjo communities attended by community leaders, Uvwie LGA Chairman and representatives of Security agencies, the Uvwie traditional council recommended this decision to the court in suit No ECH/249/2024 for adoption in consonance with the traditional administrative structure of Uvwie Kingdom
HRM Dr. Emmanuel Ekemejewa Sideso, earlier gave a brief history of the crisis which started when some Uvwie indigenes resident in DDPA Estate and Ugboridjo found reasons to take steps to establish and seek recognitioin of what they termed Ugboridjo community.
He explained that the Traditional Council approved vie a royal proclamation of 25th November 2017 which declared Ugboridjo community as one of the numerous full fledged communities in Etche r’ Ugboroke making it clear that the new creation was essentially for the ease of the traditional administration of Etche r’ Ugboroke
“Aggrieved by the actions of the Uvwie Traditional Council and the Uvwie Local Government, representatives of Ugborikoko community petitioned the Delta State government stating that the area referred to as Ugboridjo is an integral part of Ugborikoko community and sought a reversal of the proclamation of the Ovie and the bye-law passed by the council, but they later abandoned the petition as they failed to make further representations to the Peace Building and Conflict Resolution committee set up by the Delta state government.
“The Ugborikoko community later filed suit No EHC/249/2024 at the High Court between Chief Emmanuel Otomewo and others suing for themselves and on behalf of Ugborikoko community vs Mr. George Ileleji and others suing for themselves and as representatives of promoters of Ugboridjo/DDPA community
“In exercise of the statutory and traditional authority of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, the parties involved were invited separately and later jointly to discuss a peaceful resolution of the dispute. Both parties agreed to submit to the traditional arbitration of the Uvwie Traditonal Council with a view of an out of court settlement and that the terms of settlement will be filled in court for judicial endorsement.
The panel headed by Chief Macdonald Ugbewanku had four representatives from Ugborikoko community and four from Ugboridjo community. The Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom also appointed Chief Rex Eju as alternative Chairman with Chief Benjamin Eshenake as Secretary
“The Panel started its work and both parties submitted their memorandum stating their position on the dispute. However, just as the parties were preparing to defend their memorandum, Ugborikoko community boycotted the committee meeting on the allegation that the committee chairman and his alternative were biased because they refused to share a document submitted by Ugboridjo community with them. The document is the bye-law of Uvwie Local Government Council establishing Ugboridjo community.
After reviewing the panel report, the traditional council said among other findings that: “It would appear that dispute between Ugborikoko and Ugboridjo leaders and their representatives stem from purported exercise of rights to collect development levies and charges from residents of DDPA despite the fact that collection of “Deve” had been prohibited by the Delta state government
The traditional Council condemned seriously the actions and/or inactions of some chiefs in both Ugborikoko and Ugboridjo for creating avoidable tension in the area.
The council stressed that communities were not static but are organic and must be sharpen from time to time with on-going expansions, developments and increase in population and urged all leaders to foster unity and teach the younger ones the virtues of obedience, respect to constituted authority, due process and communal existence.
