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A group, South-South Coalition, an Ijaw leadership forum, yesterday, appealed to the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II, to forgive them over claims by some groups of Ijaw coalition, accusing him (Oba Ewuare II) of forcibly taking and building on their lands in Gelegele, in Ovia North East Local Council of Edo.
Chairman of the coalition, General Pere Ejune made the appeal in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
He said: “The Ijaws and Benins have never one day had any contentious issue or argument. We are brothers and sisters.
“We are pleading with the Oba to use his exalted position to forgive the brains behind the offensive publication, so as to foster peace and unity in Edo State. We are loyal to the Oba of Benin.
“The Oba is everybody’s father in Edo State. He can go to any communities to develop the place or establish any infrastructure as he so desires…”
He continued: “We, categorically, condemn the publication against the Oba. We are advising the petitioners to stop false allegations with the intent of causing disaffection in the peaceful Edo riverine communities.
“We (the Benins and the Ijaws) have been together from the days of the old Western Region to Midwestern Region, Bendel State and now Edo State.”
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