Igede Crisis: Oju clan decry UNAST destruction, sue for peace

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The people of Oju clan of Benue state have decried the recent destruction on a permanent site earmarked for siting of University of Applied Sciences and Technology (UNAST), even as they distanced themselves from the deadly clashes that broke out between Ibilla and Oju Communities, in the state.

This is just as they have stated unequivocally that they are not against the location of the University and were not the aggressors in the clashes that broke out between Ibilla and Oju Communities on 11 June.

This assertion was contained in a press statement issued by the clan on Thursday and made available to Peoples’ Daily, following the communal clashes between Ibilla and Oju communities of Oju Local Government Area of Benue State, on June 11 over the location of the university in which several lives were lost and property worth billions of naira were destroyed.

The statement, which was jointly signed by Okwori Ojajah, National President, Oju Development Association (ODA); Donald Ode, Secretary General, ODA; and Thomas Igbe Ajigo, National President, Oju Youths Association, described Oju Clan as peace and education-loving people.

It added that members of the community were surprised, when the name ‘Anyuwogbu’ where Professor Johnson Agbinya, the proprietor of UNAST hails from, appeared on the invitation Card for the GroundBreaking/ Foundation Laying Ceremony of the university posted on the social media less than one week to the occasion.

According to the statement: “As peace and education-loving people, the Oju community warmly and whole-heartedly welcomed the establishment of UNAST at Oga-Oluwa, our land, first, by not demanding compensation of any kind. Two, by actively participating in the clearing of the permanent site, jointly with Ainu and Ibilla people and; third, by participating in preparatory meetings, notably the one of December 14, 2022, called or attended by the Adirahu ny’Igede, HRH Chief Oga Ero, CP (rtd). During this period, the name of UNAST’s permanent site ‘Oga-Oluwa’ was correctly reflected on working documents and appropriately recorded and captured in the Minutes of that meeting.

“Worse still, to the best of our knowledge, no personality or leader, including the Chiefs from Oju clan, the prime catchment Community of the proposed university, was invited for the event. Sensing that the proposed university might be a smokescreen or an opportunity for the extension of the Ibilla ‘Anyuwogbu’ agenda, we as a community wrote two separate letters dated June 8, 2023, to the Adirahu ny’Igede, HRH Chief Oga Ero CP (rtd), copying relevant authorities, and Prof. Johnson Agbinya, proprietor of the proposed university, in which we expressed our reservations and suggested ways to address them.

“Consequently, meetings and consultations took place on the eve and in the morning of the event that resulted in the decision to put off the event and the scheduling of a meeting for June 24 to iron out the grey areas.”

It further added that Oju Community is not opposed to the siting of UNAST on their land and or is anti-development, rather, the misunderstanding resulted from the attachment of a hidden ‘Anyuwogbu’ agenda to the noble project of the university. Everybody in Igede knows the ancestral name where the university is being built to be ‘Oga-Oluwa’ and NOT ‘Anyuwogbu’, which is Professor Agbinya’s village.

“Our simple demand was and is to use the correct and true name of the place, Oga-Oluwa, which we consider as a neutral Igede identity for the place since the Ibilla people are not comfortable with Oju name.

“We are ready to continue to live in peace with our neighbours and call on the Government and all people of goodwill to prevail on our more illustrious Ibilla neighbours to refrain from oppressing, suppressing and attacking us.”

“The community expressed its sympathy with the victims of the unfortunate incident and called on them and others to enlist as soldiers of truth, justice and peace in our land”, the statement stated.