Ofuoma Council of Chiefs passes vote of no confidence on Etabuko as President General

…Threatens court action against OML 30 CDB Chairman

The Council of Chiefs of Ofuoma Community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State have threatened court action against the Community Development Board chairman of OML 30, Dr Morris Idiovwa over his alleged connivance with Mr Godfrey Etabuko whom they claimed to be impersonating as President General to shortchange their community.

The Council of Chiefs in a letter addressed to the CDB chairman and signed by its Chairman, Chief D. G Afatakpa and Secretary, Chief A. O Izoma, stated that there had been a vacuum in executive positions of the community since 2019 created by a tussle between aspirants for President General Position.

According to the statement, “the tussle led to the institution of several legal actions in a court of competent jurisdiction. And the cause of the leadership tussle was a result of the screening of some constitutionally unqualified persons aspiring for the position of President General of the community by the electoral committee.

“Irked by activities of the screening committee, one of the aspirants filed actions in courts of competent jurisdiction and the matters are yet to be finally determined in the courts.

“But it has come to our notice and the Ofuoma community that one of the aspirants for the position of the President General whose eligibility is being contested in court, Mr Godfrey Etabuko has been parading himself as President General of the community”, they added.

The Council of Chiefs alleged in the letter that Mr Etabuko Godfrey in connivance with Chief Dr Isaac Akpoveta whom they also alleged to be impersonating as leader of the community has been relating with the leadership of the OML 30 CDB pertaining to monies, CRC materials and community projects accruing to Ofuoma community without the general consent of the entire community.

They reiterated in the statement that the said persons are not in any way in a position to relate with the OML 30 CDB on issues concerning monies, CRC materials and projects accruing to the community.

They noted in the letter that the only person entitled to discuss such issues with the OML 30 CDB is the CDB representative of the community, Chief Theo Mukoro.

They explained in the letter that the action of Mr Godfrey Etabuko and Chief (Dr.) Isaac Akpoveta is contrary to Section I (2) (i) and (ii) of the Ofuoma Community Constitution which provides that “the community shall not be governed by any person or group of persons, except those who are duly elected, in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.”

“That since there is a leadership vacuum with respect to OCDU, in the community, the Elders Council of which we the Chiefs of Ofuoma community are all members, ought to oversee the affairs of the community in conjunction with the Council of Chiefs, however, the Elders council is in disarray or disorganized state and is plagued with internal in fighting, which has created factions in the said Elders Council.

“That having regards to the state of disorganization in the Elders Council and the lack of Ofuoma Community Development Union (OCDU) Executives in Ofuoma Community, hence, the Council of Chiefs being a vital organ in the Ofuoma Community has resolved to wade into the issue by formally writing the leadership of the OML 30 CDB about the ugly situation in Ofuoma Community and about ‘the lingering unresolved leadership issues.

“Consequently, we demand that the chairman of OML 30 CDB suspend the release of monies, CRC materials and community projects accruing to Ofuoma community since there are no elected substantive Ofuoma Community Development Union (OCDU) executives currently on the ground to interface or relate the issue of payments of monies, CRC materials and community projects.

“For now, no monies, CRC materials and projects belonging to Ofuoma Community should be released or paid to Mr. Godfrey Etabuko and Chief (Dr.) Isaac Akpoveta or any other person or persons on behalf of Ofuoma Community, pending when several court actions have been finally determined and a new Ofuoma Community Development Uriion (OCDU) executive is put in place after the conduct of Ofuoma Community elections”.