RIVERS: Ogbele Community Sacks Paramount Ruler, Reaffirm Dissolution Of Factionalized Women Association

 by Vera Kemepade

Ogbele Community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria, has sacked its Eze Uwhe Ula (Paramount Ruler).

The sacked paramount ruler, High Chief Chituru Festus Oyagiri was said to have been sacked because of misappropriation of community fund to the tune of about Five Hundred and Thirty Nine Million Naira, lack of development, holding positions against the community interests, factionalisation, amongst other allegations.

The sack by the community was announced during its October monthly meeting held on Saturday, October 15th, 2022 at the second town hall built by Rt. Hon. Edison Ogelenye Ehie, Esq, the Deputy Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly.

High Chief Prince Azubuike Aruche was immediately appointed to act as the Eze Uwhe Ula (Paramount Ruler) and head of the Eze Uwhe Ula – In – Council.

Speaking to Journalists after the meeting, the Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman, Comrade Christian Oguzor Clement reiterated that outside the fraud perpetuated, the sacked paramount ruler does not hold meetings with his Council of Chiefs, neither with the community before going to discuss with the company (NDPR).

He accused him of running a government of exclusion and always personalizing Community documents, emphasized that the sacked paramount ruler publicly denounced a peaceful protest the community embarked against the NDPR to demand employment and other welfare packages that is due it.

The CDC Chairman maintained that his removal is due and appropriate.

Also speaking, Elder Chief Comr. Nathan Amuso AP, described the removal of the former paramount ruler as the community being liberated from bondage, saying that it calls for joy and celebration.

Elder Amuso stressed that the sack Eze Uwhe Ula has not satisfactorily accounted for over five hundred million, three hundred and thirteen thousand naira of community money under his watch.

He further stated that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) he claimed to have signed with the company (NDPR) over two years is not made public, against all entreaties by the community.

“We removed the former paramount ruler (High Chief Chituru Festus Oyagiri) because money meant for the community, almost Five Hundred and Thirty Nine Million Naira has been siphoned, with no tangible records that shows what it was used for, in terms of provisions of amenities in the community.

“That is why the community deemed it necessary to appoint a caretaker paramount ruler, to probe the former CDC and the sacked Eze Uwhe Ula.

“Again, the MoU we had with the company, till today, almost four years now, nobody has seen a copy of it. Based on these obvious reasons, since he can not move the community forward, the community unanimously agreed today, Saturday, October 15th, 2022 removed him,” he narrated.

Elder Felix Ndu Ikiri and Chief Priest Progress Ibe also blamed the lack of infrastructural and human capital development on the sacked paramount ruler and his style of administration, maintaining that the community has all it takes to be great.

Earlier, the newly appointed acting paramount ruler, High Chief Prince Azubuike Aruche, while fielding questions from newsmen, has promised to unify all factions in the community.

Chief Aruche, who was before his appointment the community Council of Chiefs chairman said he would position his people to benefit from government and its agencies through provision of social amenities.

He called for working synergy with sons and daughters of the community, promising to run an all inclusive government anchored on the ethos of development.

His words: “My priority is to coordinate and galvanize all factions in the community to be one. The community can not move forward except it speaks with one voice.

“All cultural activities would be restored and things the community had missed as an oil and gas bearing community from Government and Governmental Organizations/Agencies would be attracted.

Meanwhile, the community has reaffirmed the dissolution of the two factions parading as Women Association and directed that a meeting would be summoned soon to reorganize the women body.

Bochnews investigation revealed that this is the third time the throne of Ogbele Community paramount ruler has suffered inglorious removal from office.