Ugborodo crisis deepens, as Ayonmike rejects Uduaghan’s appointment

The protracted leadership crisis in Ugborodo community, Warri South- West local government has taken a fresh dimension, as Mr. J.O Ayonmike, an economist and brother to Chairman of the respected Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, LOT, Pa. J.O.S Ayomike has rejected his appointment as member of a committee set up by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to liaise with investors in the New Gas projects at Ogidigben, Warri South -West.

While asking Governor Uduaghan to replace him in the parallel committee Chaired by Chief Thomas  Ereyitomi, Mr. J.O Ayonmike stated that he consider the appointment as very insulting and a calculated attempt to “be-little and ridicule him”, stressing that he will never accept to serve in Governor Uduaghan’s cabinet.

The rejection letter which is addressed to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and dated November 20, 2013 also copied Pa. J.O.S Ayomike, Delta State First Lady, Deaconess (Mrs.) Roli Uduaghan and Chairman of Delta State Sports Commission who is also his relation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick.

Fresh Angle learnt that the Chief Thomas Ereyitomi led Committee set up by Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is being viewed as a parallel committee to a similar one earlier  set up by Ugborodo community to liaise with President Goodluck Jonathan on the new Gas Projects. The membership of the committee set up by the community include former Chairman of Warri South- West local government and a factional Chairman of Ugborodo Community Trust, Hon. David Tonwe as well as Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, both of whom are to serve as members with a nuetral person serving as chairman.

The Hon. David Tonwe leadership of Ugborodo Community Trust which has a scion of the Ayomikes as its Secretary is viewing the Chief Thomas Ereyitomi New Gas Projects Committee set up by Uduaghan as a calculated attempt to undermine the Committee earlier established by stakeholders in Ugborodo for the same purpose.

Meanwhile, the Registered Trustee of Ugborodo Community Trust, E.E. Tsebi has accused Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of being the mastermind of the recent invasion of Ugborodo Community by Naval Officers, who allegedly “shot sporadically and indiscriminately at innocent unarmed citizens”, including women and children.

According to E.E. Tsebi, the heavily armed Naval Officers who invaded the community Friday November 22 , 2013 with five gun boats destroyed houses, properties and carted away several items as well as cash running into several millions of Naira.

In an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan tilted, “unprovoked and unwarranted invasion of Ugborodo Community by Nigerian Navy”, Mr. Tsebi claimed that a New Town Project proposed for the community over eight years ago and was subscribed to by both the Delta State Government and Chevron Corporation USA to the tune of overt N 6 billion failed to take off, “even though more than 80 percent of the said sum has been disbursed”.

He blamed those he described as surrogates of the governor of frustrating attempts to develop Ugborodo Community.

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