By Ameachi Prosper
Following the devastation of Ekporo community by inter-communal crisis eight years ago, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has released the sum of N400million to enable the community rebuild its critical infrastructure.
Ekporo community in Eleme Local Government is also expected to use the funds to compensate families who were affected by the crisis.
Wike who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo addressed stakeholders of the community at the weekend in Port Harcourt, noting that it was the desire of the administration to ensure that communities remained peaceful and enjoyed the infrastructural prosperity of the state.
He said that government would continue to foster inter-communal coexistence and peace in order to build a safe and secure state for all.
“It is unfortunate that members of the Ekporo community were sacked from their community for about eight years now as a result of the inter-communal wars.
“We expect you to work with government on beneficial plans to utilize this fund in terms of primary infrastructure and resettlement of the people back into their community.”
He urged indigenes of the state to continue to toe the line of peace as conflict and war would only brew devastation and under-development.
The King of Eleme, Dr. Philip Osaro Obele, affirmed that what the governor has done was very historic because the people of Ekporo can be peacefully settled back into their homes after years of living as refugees.
“We lost one of our communities for over seven years and today we are bringing back that community. Members of the Ekporo community have been refugees in other areas despite the situation that there is no war now. What has happened today is very historic.”
