ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
Leadership of eight host communities of Chevron Nigeria Limited in Southern Ijaw and Brass local government areas of Bayelsa State, under the KEFFES Rural Development Foundation (KRDF), has placed three chiefs for allegedly sponsoring the recent crisis that rocked the foundation.
The suspended chiefs, who are communities’ representatives on the foundation’s board are Chief Manash Oluzulu (Foropa), Chief Dekumo Sunday – Regent (Ekeni), and Chief Wagibowei Ngozi Dowi (Fish Town).
They were suspended for failing to appear before the enlarged foundation’s Board of Trustees meeting to explain their alleged complicity in the lingering crisis within the foundation.
They were also accused of backing the decision of the Comrade Timiebi Woinemi Amadein’s group to misinterpret the order of the State High Court and allegedly attempted to change the leadership of the foundation through the back door.
At a meeting of the foundation’s BOT presided over by the Secretary, King Israel Igbousa, it was resolved that the communities which the suspended chiefs represented should deliberate and forward replacement to fill the vacant seats.
Speaking with reporters after the meeting, an ex-officio member, Chief Christopher Tuduo, said the latest suspension was to end the crisis rocking the foundation.
Tuduo said: “The meeting is actually borne out the last gathering to reach a decision on the crisis before this foundation.
“The three BOT members that were supposed to be here today to respond to questions that bordered on the role they played in the lingering crisis were unable to make it. They were however represented by some community chiefs.
“So, the general stakeholders, which is the General Assembly of the council met and decided that the three BOT members be suspended from the board. It must be clear that their communities are not suspended but the individuals are. We expect the communities concerned to write to the council on what they want to do with them and council will follow suit.
“Also, another matter was the issue of some members who erred and had apologised, though forgiven but there is one who is purported to be the secretary of the parallel executive wrongly created by Tibiebi Amadein. The matter came up and the BOT members formally forgave him for having written an apology letter that he was misled.
“For now, there are five members who are still suspended. They are Tibiebi Amadein, the chairman of the parallel executive, Kofa Murphy Daniel, Christopher Longlife, Amina James and Ebitare Joseph.
“Also, the council has nominated me, Christopher Tuduo, to act on behalf of the BOT members. They did so because they are elderly and weak in going about RDF business. The move is novel and I was surprised, but I promised that I will take responsibility.”
KEFFES is a foundation representing the eight Chevron Nigeria Limited host communities in Bayelsa comprising Koluama 1 & 2, Ezetu 1 & 2, Foropa, Fish Town, Ekeni and Sangana located along the Atlantic coastline within Bayelsa State.
Recall the KEFESS crises was instigated by the alleged attempt by Amadein in a suit a suit against the chairmanship position of Mathew Selepri at the state High Court, Oporoma Division.
The court had ordered that the KEFFES Rural Development Foundation (KRDF) conduct another election and a stay of execution motion was filed before Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
It was, however, gathered that the High Court in its ruling did not declare the claimant, Amadein as chairman or executive of the KRDF. He was said to have allegedly in defiance to the ruling of the court written a letter to Chevron claiming victory and setting up a parallel executive of the foundation.