The Ekpon Development Union (EDU), Edo State, has denied reports of a ‘bitter land dispute’ between the community and Ewohimi, saying the two communities are following laid -down procedures to delineate the boundary between the two towns that have lived peacefully over the years.
A statement by EDU President, Chuks Edobor, and Secretary General, Smart Ebhodaghe, said a disparaging article entitled ‘Ekpon and Ewohimi kingdoms in bitter land dispute: A battle for ancestral heritage,’ did not emanate from the union and should be discountenanced.
Stressing that the Ekpon community has not contracted anybody to speak on its behalf on communal or political issues, EDU 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.”
It added that the “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 Edo State government.
“To drag the name of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki 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.”
The union told the political parties and their members in Ekpon that they are at liberty to canvass for votes without any fear of intimidation in the run up to the forthcoming elections.
It added: “We desire to have a peaceful election on the day, as has always been, with the best of the candidates emerging victorious.”
