Fresh tension as Bayelsa community declares showdown with Gov Diri

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

Tension is heightened in Ekeremor’s Local Government Area of Bayelsa State over a protracted Kingship crisis in the Aghoro community.

The community has renewed the threat to resist what they described as an attempt by Gov Douye Diri to impose a dethroned highness who allegedly embezzled the community’s money on them.

The angry residents and leaders of the community said it was shameful that Diri now abandoned the Aghoro community whose mass support contributed to his election victory and decided to make friends with dethroned Highness who constantly misappropriated the community money.

They said no responsible government would identify with someone who allegedly embezzled Aghoro community money, adding that this singular act had made Governor Diri unpopular in Bayelsa State.

The aggrieved youths stated: “We will die with you, please tell SPDC to pay our money. You are telling the world that you can’t be trusted, you are no longer dependable. We are not perturbed or deterred. You will hear the scores soon.

“A small community conflict over a year now you can’t resolve it. You asked SHELL to suspend the payment of our community entitlements and that you will open a central account to receive our money but to date, we have not seen the account, and we have not seen our money.

“Please tell us if you are not capable to resolve this Kingship imbroglio, so that we will use our traditional way of addressing dispute to settle ourselves,” they added.

The community youths who accused Diri of insincerity, vowed to resist any gang up against the community, adding that Alex Towezi, Fred Agbedi and Fred Orumene should be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the community.