Kpokpo community warns against misrepresentation of its headship

The people of Kpokpo in Escravos, Warri South-West Local Government Area in Delta State have warned against misrepresentation of the headship of the community, stressing that Kpokpo whose land “is a major host of Delta Industrial Gas City otherwise known as EPZ is under the leadership of an Olare-Aja (head of the community) Pa. George Kolo Fregene and not Olori-Ebi as erroneously reported”.

In a statement signed by Olare-Aja of Kpokpo Community, Pa George Kolo Fregene, on behalf of the community, he called on sponsors of the report claiming Kpokpo community has Olori-Ebi as its head to retrace their steps and desist from false publication.

The statement further noted that Olori-Ebi is associated with family headship in Itsekiri land and not an autonomous community like Kpokpo with long history and a recognized leadership.

While imploring the media to verify its facts on the true traditional headship of Kpokpo before “entertaining publications capable of distorting history and denying Kpokpo people of their rights as far as the EPZ project is concerned”, Kpokpo community reiterated its call for “the resignation of Chairman of Ogidigben EPZ Interface Committee, Barr. Austin Oborogbeyi over his refusal to incorporate them as stakeholders and one of the host communities to the legacy project”.

They warned that those wrongly using the name of their Olare-Aja, Pa. George Kolo Fregene to issue false publication should be ready for litigation if such actions continue forthwith.

Pa. Fregene had in a previous publication demanded to know the role of the Interface Committee Chairman if the interest of people of its host communities would not be taken into consideration in the award of contracts and employments in the EPZ project in-line with the Local Content Act.

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