Chevron’s host communities meet, suspend three chiefs over allege complicity in crisis

Leadership of eight host communities of Chevron Nigeria limited exploration activities in Southern Ijaw and Brass Local Government areas of Bayelsa State under the KEFFES Rural Development foundation have suspended three traditional Chiefs over their allege sponsor of the recent crisis that rocked the foundation.

The suspended chiefs, who are members of the foundation’s Board of Trustee (BOT),are Chief Manash L. Oluzulu ( Foropa ), Chief Dekumo Sunday- Regent(Ekeni) and Chief Wagibowei Ngozi Dowi (Fish town).

They were suspended for failing to appear during the enlarge foundation’s Board of Trustee meeting to explain their allege involvement in the lingering crisis within the organization, accusing them of backing the decision of the Comrade Timiebi Woinemi Amadein group to misinterprete the order from the State High Court and attempt to change leadership through the back door.​

At the enlarged meeting of the foundation’s Board of Trustee (BOT) presided over by the BOT Secretary, H.R.H Israel Igbousa, the motion suspending the three chiefs was moved by Chief Martins Saighe and seconded by H.R.H (Rev) Williams (Ezetu 2 community Traditional Ruler), resolved that the communities which the suspended chiefs represented should deliberate and forward replacement to fill the vacant seats.

Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, an ex-officio member, Chief Christopher Tuduo, said latest suspension was to end the saga rocking the foundation.

“The meeting is actually borne out the last gathering to reach a decision on the crisis before this foundation. Today’s meeting is one agenda meeting but unfortunately, the three BOT members that were supposed to be here today to respond to questions that bother on the role they played in the lingering crisis were unable to make it but were 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 are suspended from the board. It must be clear that their communities are not suspended but the individuals are suspended. We expect the community concerned to write to the council on what they want do to with them and council will follow suit”

“.Also, another matter was the issue of some members who erred and have apologised, though forgiven but there is one who is purported to be the secretary of the parallel executive wrongly created by Timiebi and the matter came up and the BOT members formally forgive him for having written an apology letter that he was misled.”

” For now, there are five persons members who are still suspended, namely, 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.”

“For those causing trouble within the council, they have been forgiven in advance but we want they to show that they are ready to come and work with us but we won’t go out to beg them .we are equal stakeholders and no person will undo the other person. Yes there may be one pocket of misunderstanding but we are all ready to forge ahead. “

KEFESS 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.
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It would recalled the KEFESS crises was instigated by the allege attempt by Comrade Tibiebi Woinemi Amadein in a suit a suit against the chairmanship position of Mathew Selepri at the state high court, Oporoma division and the court 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.
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It was gathered that the High Court in its ruling did not declare the claimant, Tibiebi Woinemi Amadein as Chairman or executive of the KRDF. And allegedly in defiance to the ruling of the court had written a letter to Chevron Oil limited claiming victory and setting up a parallel executive of the foundation.

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