Posted by The Port Harcourt Telegraph on
In compliance with the Rivers State Government's 31st December, 2004 deadline for cultists to repent and surrender illegal arms in their possession, various cult groups in Opobo Kingdom have resolved to denounce cultism and embrace peace and reconciliation.
In compliance with the Rivers State Government's 31st December, 2004 deadline for cultists to repent and surrender illegal arms in their possession, various cult groups in Opobo Kingdom have resolved to denounce cultism and embrace peace and reconciliation.
In a six-point communiqué issued at the end of a meeting yesterday presided over by Mr. Atonyesia Dim-Peterside at the instance of the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Sir Gabriel Toby, five cult groups operating in the area agreed to lay down their arms and denounce their membership of cult groups.
At the meeting, which held at Government House, Port Harcourt, the youths also, resolved to work together towards achieving lasting peace and unity in the area while cult
Members and those possessing illegal arms must lay down their arms and surrender it to the state government.
The communique signed by Tamunotonye Toby of the Ijaw Youth Council, Nna Obomanu of De-Gbam, Adagogo Fubara of Islando, Agbarasi Amaigbo Brown of Ijaw Youth Council and Maxwell Peterside of Opobo Youth also noted that the youths have decided to work towards protecting the interest of Opobo people at all levels and enhance the development and progress of the kingdom.
According to the communiqué, the youths have agreed to conform with the peace and reconciliation efforts of the Rivers State Government and in particular the Opobo Kingdom and have also agreed that for absolute peace to reign in the kingdom, all grievances and disagreements that existed between various groups are settled forthwith.
Addressing the meeting, the Personal Assistant to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Atonyesia Dim-Peterside, expressed the need for Opobo people to come together as a kingdom to pursue a common goal, saying that Opobo is a unique entity in the history of Nigeria.
He reminded them of the deadline issued to cultists by the state government to hand over all illegal arms before January 1, 2004, pointing out that government through its rehabilitation and re-integration scheme was determined to enhance the welfare of youths who denounced their membership of cultism or other related activities.