The Ekpon Development Union (EDU) has stated that there is no “bitter land dispute” between them and the Ewohimi Community as it is being circulated in social media.
EDU has stressed that, “Due process is being followed in the ongoing efforts to clearly outline the boundary between the two towns in their continuous peaceful and harmonious co-existence”.
A statement signed by the EDU president and secretary general, Messrs. Chuks Edobor, and Smart Ebhodaghe, respectively, said the disparaging article titled “Ekpon and Ewohimi kingdoms in bitter land dispute: A battle for ancestral heritage” did not emanate from it and should be discountenanced, maintaining that the Ekpon Community has not contracted anybody to speak on its behalf on communal or political issues.
The Ekpon Development Union said, “If there is the need for Ekpon’s voice to be heard on any issue of concern, the leadership of the town knows how to go about it”.
The statement added, “Royal Palace of Ekpon, and by extension Ekpon town, has no issues with the Edo State government over the stool of the Onogie of Ekpon. The stool is intact within the Royal Palace, as gazetted by the government of Edo State.
“To drag the name of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State into a phantom kingship tussle is only a figment of the imagination of the writer of the article in question.
“Ekpon, as a component of the entity called Edo State, is law abiding and respects constituted authorities and the organs of government at all levels.”
It said that in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State, the political parties and their members in Ekpon are at liberty to canvas for votes without any fear of intimidation.
“We desire to have a peaceful election on the day, as has always been, with the best of the candidates emerging victorious”, according to the statement.
