Kingship Crisis: Bayelsa govt dissolves Aghoro community leadership

By Anita Godfrey
&Teide Emomotimi

Following the endless leadership crisis bedeviling Aghoro community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the governor of the state His Excellency senator Douye Diri has ordered the dissolution of all factional leadership including Highness, youth groups and community executive committee.

The governor gave the directive during the 73rd State Executive Council meeting held in the Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday.

Congress gathered that the crisis started when the community dethroned alleged former Highness Chief Ojukonsin Ebamughan and installed Chief Afro Biukeme as the new Highness in Aghoro ll community.

The community said the former Highness was dethroned because he ate the community’s money. Though, this allegation is yet to be debunked by the former Highness.

However, this led to the destruction of the new Highness palace by the factional group.

Again, while Bayelsa government was working to resolve the crisis, another group went recently and destroyed part of the house of a federal lawmaker, Hon Fredrick Agbedi.

The governor while given the directive said: “There was another ugly incident at Aghoro ll community, in Ekeremor Local Government Area, where again, the houses of a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Fred Agbedi and his brother were razed. I have directed the security agencies to take over that community, and the ministry of Local Government to dethrone all leadership in that community.

Diri, also directed all oil companies to stop dealings with every factional leadership in the community, adding that money meant for the community should be paid to the state government in a separate account which would be opened for the community.

Acccording to the governor, “Henceforth, all oil companies and others who have dues to pay to that community should stop, and I hereby direct the Honourable Commissioner for Mineral Resources and that of Finance to open a separate account for that community, and all payments due to that community be paid into the account.

“No one should call himself or herself a Youth leader, woman leader, chairman or Chief in Aghoro community from today. We cannot be taken back to the primitive ages, because Bayelsans and Ijaws have moved forward, and we will continue to move forward. I direct the security agencies to investigate, and all the culprits of that act be promptly arrested and prosecuted.” he added.