BEVERLY HILLS, March 22, (THEWILL) – Communities of Kerebiri Mein kingdom of Bomadi council area of Delta State have protested what they alleged was non-inclusiveness and deprivation by the traditional umbrella body of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders Forum with the connivance of lawmakers.
The communities in a letter addressed to the CITRE which was made available to newsmen in Yenagoa during the last meeting of the CITRE, dated March 16, noted that the protest was necessitated by the non recognition of the kingdom by the constitution of the umbrella Justice Francis Tabai’s led Ijaw National Congress, INC.
The letter which was signed by Chief Clement Tikpa, Secretary of the Kerebiri Mein kingdom, alleged that following their non-inclusiveness by the INC an alien kingdom, Akugbene Mein has been usurping and appropriating roles and functions originally meant for their kingdom in the INC, CITRE and other pan-Ijaw affairs.
They restated that the acts perpetrated by the Akugbene Mein kingdom were capable of breaching the peace in the two separate, autonomous kingdoms.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after their protest letter to the meeting of the CITRE, the trio of Chiefs Clement Tikpa, Ordley Oyindoubra and Barr. Francis Omoko called on the leadership of the Ijaw nation, Governors Douye Diri of Bayelsa and Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta states to hold the trio of Senator James Manager, Representative Nicholas Mutu and Hon. Kenneth Preyor responsible in the event that the crises escalate.
The trio alleged that the three names identified by the kingdom were the Federal and state legislators representing the constituencies of the feuding areas.
The people alleged that despite repeated pleadings made by the Kerebiri Mein kingdom, the lawmakers failed to intervene in containing the problems facing the communities.
The kingdom described the attempts by the Akugbene Mein kingdom as surreptitious, incessant oppression and intimidation, saying it was highly provocative, just as they noted that if not urgently handled might escalate to a crisis situation.
THEWILL recalls that both Kerebiri Mein and Akugbene Mein kingdoms were Ijaw clans situated in parts in Bomadi and Burutu council areas of Delta state respectively.
It was in a bid to finding lasting peace amongst factions in the INC, the conference of the Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders Forum, CITRE convened a meeting in Yenagoa capital of Bayelsa state during the previous week.
However, due to the suspension of the market election, traders used the occasion to hold market convention whereby the embattled Chairman accounted for his stewardship for the passing year without rancour nor any form of opposition.
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