Features
Okpebholo, Oborevwori must prevail to end lingering Edo, Delta boundary disputes
Written By: Emmanuel Ikhenebome
19 Sep 2025 04:11 AM
Benin, Edo – As tensions simmer along the Edo-Delta border, the urgent need for Governors Monday Okpebholo of Edo and Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta—both stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress (APC)—to meet and resolve a decades-long boundary dispute has never been clearer.
Rooted in the 1991 division of the old Bendel State, this conflict over oil-rich territories threatens to destabilize communities like Urhonigbe in Edo and Umutu in Delta, undermining the APC’s promise of unity under President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
A face-to-face summit between these governors, leveraging their shared party loyalty, is critical to restoring peace, safeguarding livelihoods, and preventing a slide into violence, as recent escalations have heightened fears, with Delta’s deployment of heavy machinery to claim disputed farmlands across the River Ethiope has prompted sharp condemnation from Edo.
As APC allies, Okpebholo and Oborevwori have a unique opportunity to demonstrate party unity by meeting to negotiate a resolution, yet their reluctance to do so leaves border communities vulnerable.
The disputed areas in Orhionmwon and Ukwuani are not just lines on a map but home to families facing economic disruption and the threat of conflict over lands rich in oil and agricultural potential.
Historically, deputy governors from both states have issued joint calls for National Boundaries Commission (NBC) demarcation to avert violence, a precedent Okpebholo and Oborevwori could build upon. However, corporate interests in the oil and rubber sectors continue to exploit the unrest, exacerbating local grievances.
Oborevwori’s recent alignment with the APC was framed as a move to foster regional progress, yet without dialogue with his Edo counterpart, this promise rings hollow. Okpebholo, newly elected, has a chance to show leadership by initiating talks rather than relying solely on federal intervention.
A joint summit, potentially mediated by APC leadership, could set a framework for equitable land demarcation, resource sharing, and community protection, aligning with both governors’ pledges to prioritize their people’s welfare.
“We need our governors to sit down as brothers in the same party and end this crisis,” said an elder from Umutu, noting, “our lands and lives depend on it.”
The APC’s national leadership, including President Tinubu, must also step in to compel this dialogue, reinforcing the party’s commitment to unity. While the NBC’s role in technical demarcation is vital, only a unified front from Okpebholo and Oborevwori can deliver lasting peace and prevent corporate exploitation from further inflaming tensions.
The time for excuses is over. Governors Okpebholo and Oborevwori must harness their APC solidarity to meet, negotiate, and resolve this boundary dispute before it spirals into chaos.
A summit now could not only save lives but also set a powerful example of how party unity can triumph over conflict, delivering on the promise of a better future for Edo and Delta.
Rooted in the 1991 division of the old Bendel State, this conflict over oil-rich territories threatens to destabilize communities like Urhonigbe in Edo and Umutu in Delta, undermining the APC’s promise of unity under President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
A face-to-face summit between these governors, leveraging their shared party loyalty, is critical to restoring peace, safeguarding livelihoods, and preventing a slide into violence, as recent escalations have heightened fears, with Delta’s deployment of heavy machinery to claim disputed farmlands across the River Ethiope has prompted sharp condemnation from Edo.
As APC allies, Okpebholo and Oborevwori have a unique opportunity to demonstrate party unity by meeting to negotiate a resolution, yet their reluctance to do so leaves border communities vulnerable.
The disputed areas in Orhionmwon and Ukwuani are not just lines on a map but home to families facing economic disruption and the threat of conflict over lands rich in oil and agricultural potential.
Historically, deputy governors from both states have issued joint calls for National Boundaries Commission (NBC) demarcation to avert violence, a precedent Okpebholo and Oborevwori could build upon. However, corporate interests in the oil and rubber sectors continue to exploit the unrest, exacerbating local grievances.
Oborevwori’s recent alignment with the APC was framed as a move to foster regional progress, yet without dialogue with his Edo counterpart, this promise rings hollow. Okpebholo, newly elected, has a chance to show leadership by initiating talks rather than relying solely on federal intervention.
A joint summit, potentially mediated by APC leadership, could set a framework for equitable land demarcation, resource sharing, and community protection, aligning with both governors’ pledges to prioritize their people’s welfare.
“We need our governors to sit down as brothers in the same party and end this crisis,” said an elder from Umutu, noting, “our lands and lives depend on it.”
The APC’s national leadership, including President Tinubu, must also step in to compel this dialogue, reinforcing the party’s commitment to unity. While the NBC’s role in technical demarcation is vital, only a unified front from Okpebholo and Oborevwori can deliver lasting peace and prevent corporate exploitation from further inflaming tensions.
The time for excuses is over. Governors Okpebholo and Oborevwori must harness their APC solidarity to meet, negotiate, and resolve this boundary dispute before it spirals into chaos.
A summit now could not only save lives but also set a powerful example of how party unity can triumph over conflict, delivering on the promise of a better future for Edo and Delta.
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