Okubor in self-exile for abusing power -IYC Lagos chairman, Tikima

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

The Lagos State Ijaw Youths Council, IYC Chairman, Comrade Arigban Tikima, who is an indigene of the Inikorogha community has revealed that ex-militant leader Robert Okubo, an indigene of the community, is on-the-run because he abused power.

Tikima who spoke to Congress correspondents said the gathering of indigenes of the Inikorogha community on April 29, 2023, was not political but a sign of relief from captivity.

He said for over 12 years, April 29, was the first time the entire community had converged to deliberate on the way forward of the community.

The IYC chairman who described the meeting as a sign of return to peace and freedom, said members of the community travelled from Lagos, Benin, Yenagoa, Warri and Ondo states to attend the community general meeting on April 29, after 12 years of captivity.

His words, “I’m Comrade Arigban Tikima, an indigene of Inikorogha community in Olodiama kingdom in Ovia South West Local Government Area, Edo state. I’m also the current Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, Chairman Lagos chapter. I came from Lagos to attend the community general meeting for the first time after 12 years. We are here to address some communal issues that have been lingering for many years. As you can see we have extensive deliberations on the way forward of the community.

He explained, “We are here to discuss the transition of power to fresh government in the community. As you can see, the current youth president has been in power for more than 12 years. While the current community administration has been in office for more than 6years. This happened because the community has been held captive by an Ex-militant leader called Robert Okubo. He singlehandedly decide who and who should be in the youth and community excos and has been deciding the community affairs for this long.

“I thank Daniel Ezekiel from the Gboba community for consistently fighting against injustice in the Inikorogha community to ensure the people are liberated from this slavery. I also appreciate God’stime Ogidiga who is from the Inikorogha community for doing his part to resist Okubo criminal activities in the community. What you saw today shows that the community has been liberated. We have not gathered like this in this community for the past 12 years for fear of Okubo victimization. But today the community has been able to gather.

“As we speak we dissolved the former Mugabe or Gadaffi excos who has been ruling with gun and sword for the past 12 years. The community has equally installed an interim community exco to oversee the affairs of the community for the next three months. This decision stands because it was taken collectively and unanimously by the entire community. I am surprised that I couldn’t find Okubo here. I expected to see him but I was reliably informed that he is on the run. The question is how long will he run. I think this is time for him to make amend. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. No one can play God. A man who has been intimidating everyone who will ever oppose his sword and gun is now on-the-run. It is very appalling.

“It is my advice to all youths in the Inikorogha community if you are lucky to be in the corridors of power don’t be drunk with it. Because by the time you are drunk with power, you are digging your grave. If you abuse power when trouble comes, no one will stand for you. As you can see Okubo abused power and now he is on the runs. Very shameful, but a lesson to learn from as youths of the Inikorogha community. If you are called to serve, serve diligently and make a good record for yourself and your family and that is all.

“We achieve this result as a result of the backing of the Edo state government, the commissioner of police, the military and vigilante forces. I appeal to Gov Obaseki to beef up more security operatives in the community and not to withdraw security operatives now until complete peace returns to the community.

“It may interest you to know that the Inikorogha community contributes meaningfully in terms of revenue drive to the coffers of the Edo state government. We have the logs, the large farm products and others. Therefore, peace in the Inikorogha community should be a total concern for the Edo state government. I also appealed that more security men be sent to the community till total peace is restored,” he said.