ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
Local oil politics such as the clamour for membership of cluster development boards has been identified as one of the causes of communal crises in Bayelsa State, the government has revealed.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the revelation on Tuesday during a meeting with the paramount ruler and other stakeholders of Oweigbene community in Government House, Yenagoa.
Ewhrudjakpo described the do-or-die attitude with which people struggle to become leaders and members of the cluster boards in some communities as demeaning and anti-development.
He pointed out that such an attitude had led to the abandonment of the people’s traditional occupations for local oil politics that is serving the interest of oil companies to the detriment of the communities.
He said the unnecessary delay in the composition of the boards as a result of was causing great loss not only to the affected communities but to the entire state’s economy.
According to him, the non-composition of some of the boards including that of Oporomor cluster in Ekeremor Local Government Area, had cost the state over N1.5 billion.
Ewhrudjakpo, therefore, directed the Amananaowei of Oweigbene, Chief Kali Sito, and the CDC Chairman, Mr. Miens Seleware, to sink their differences and nominate representatives of the community to the cluster board without any further delay.
He said: “We are much concerned about the reports we get from our communities because of the issue of cluster boards and GMOUs, especially from Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw LGAs.
“Our people don’t want to go to school again, and have abandoned their traditional occupations of farming, fishing, and palm-wine tapping all because of the business of cluster boards.
“Becoming a chairman or member of a cluster board is now the order of the day. Let us not kill ourselves over this. People who have served out their full five years’ tenure don’t want to leave for others to takeover from them.
“Unfortunately, most of them do not even know why they are there. So the oil companies use them as their stooges. The pertinent question is, how many of them have become billionaires through their membership of any of the cluster boards?”
While declaring the sitting Amananaowei, Chief Kali Sito, as the government recognized paramount ruler of Oweigbene, Ewhrudjakpo explained that the state chieftaincy law was enacted to forestall unnecessary change of leadership in communities.
For proper reconciliation of the two factions in the community, the deputy governor announced the setting up of a seven-man committee for Oweigbene community in Ekeremor council area.
The membership of the reconciliation committee include, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Governor’s Office, Alex Dumbo; the Chairman of Ekeremor LGA, Dr. Perekeme Bertola; and the Governor’s Special Representative in Ekeremor, Hon Ben Iyeirorokumo.
Other members are the Special Adviser on Security Matters 2, Mr Ngobiowe Awoikigegha, the SSA on Security to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Ondo Gbekumo, SSA on Political Matters, Mr Engineer-Keme Didi and SSA on Community Development, Mr Germain Okporu.
He said the committee has two weeks to complete its assignment.