The Senate yesterday asked senators from Anambra, Kogi and Enugu states to resolve the dispute on the ownership of the oil-rich boundary of the three states.
The mandate followed a motion by Senator Atai Aidoko (Kogi East) on the communal clash between Echenwo/Odeke in Ibaji Local Government of Kogi State and Enugu-Otu Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government of Anambra State.
Although the motion was not taken, Senate President David Mark asked senators from the three states to meet and take the matter to the National Boundary Commission (NBC) for resolution.
Aidoko insisted that the motion should be taken since he merely asked the Senate to urge the Federal Government to create a buffer zone in the affected states, until the crisis of ownership was resolved.
He added that he wanted the Senate to urge the government to deploy the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) to protect the people.
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu told the Senate that when Aidoko informed him about the motion, he advised him to liaise with senators from Anambra State to sponsor a joint motion on the outbreak of hostilities in the oil-rich area.
Ekweremadu said he was surprised that Aidoko alone brought up the motion.
Senator Ayogu Eze (Enugu North) said President Goodluck Jonathan invited a delegation from the three states to discuss the matter.
Eze, who said he was in the delegation, informed that Aidoko was also present at the meeting.
He said Jonathan asked the delegation to allow the NBC to look into the matter.
Mark said the senators from the three states should meet to discuss the dispute.
He added that if there was need for a motion, it should be sponsored by the senators.
The Senate President explained that there were usually boundary disputes between communities and insisted that if a motion on boundary dispute was allowed in the Senate, it would become a daily occurence.
