Outgoing IRDC Fin Sec cautions Oniyesan against wrong advice, backs Olu’s decision

Outgoing Financial Secretary of Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, IRDC, Mr. Roland Oti Yomere has appealed to Mr. Austin Oniyesan to ignore the advice of those urging him to flout the orders of the Olu of Warri regarding the leadership of IRDC, saying they are only trying to destroy the good image he built over the years.

Mr. Roland Yomere, an Omadino Community leader who gave the advice in Warri during an interview on Friday March 25, declared that the people of Omadino are in total support of Barr. Oti Edukugho, “who transparently emerged via ballot as the possible next Chairman of the incoming IRDC executive, based on the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli’s decision”.

While claiming that the Warri Monarch promised to back Omadino Community in Warri South Local Government Area to produce the next IRDC Chairman, Mr. Yomere admonished Chevron, banks, the Itsekiri Nation and other stakeholders of Itsekiri Regional Development Committee to ignore purported moves by the controversially sworn-in Austin Oniyesan led IRDC executive to do any financial transaction with them in the name of IRDC, warning that whoever deals with the Oniyesan leadership which doesn’t have the Olu of Warri’s consent, does so at his or her own risk.

On speculation making the rounds that some Omadino indigenes are planning to head to court based on the Olu of Warri’s order, Mr. Yomere declared, “Omadino indigenes migrated from Ijebu-Ode centuries ago and were adopted as well as integrated by the then Olu of Warri, Ijijen. Based on that relationship with the Olu, Omadino people relinquished their land to the Lordship of the Olu of Warri and if they dare go to court, I will join the suit”.

While stressing that no indigene of Omadino can claim not to have any blood relationship to the Olu, Mr. Yomere cited the cases of Chief Omagbemi vs. Chief Dore Numa, Chief Ayomenor vs. Ginuwa as well as suits No. W/29/1949 and W/62/71 as references that should serve as test cases for possible trouble makers.

According to Mr. Yomere, the Olu of Warri’s intervention on the way forward for IRDC is premised on an appeal by the sole sponsor of IRDC, Chevron, wherein the company requested that the Monarch should step in to ensure that Itsekiri RDC is registered and a new leadership sworn-in, so as to put an end to its below-par performance compared to its counterparts.

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