No parallel executive in Odidi, Gbenekama remains legitimate chairman, not in media war with past govt -Odidi Community Clarifies

By Joseph Bienbo, Warri

The Chairman of Odidi Community Amb. Truston Gesikeme Gbenekama, has stated that the current leadership is not engaged in a media war with the past administration led by Prince Preye Okrikpa, but said a public clarification had become necessary to set the records straight.

The chairman said it was important to remind the public that Prince Preye Okrikpa, before becoming Chairman of the Odidi Community, was a vocal opponent of tenure elongation. He noted that the issue of tenure extension had long been resolved in Odidi Community and that Okrikpa himself had benefited from the principle of no tenure extension.

According to the statement, Okrikpa’s current actions reflect desperation, greed, and a disregard for the community’s established leadership structure. The chairman maintained that no media publication could validate what he described as the expired administration of Prince Preye Okrikpa.

The statement stressed that Odidi Community operates a family-based leadership structure, and it is unacceptable for individuals with expired mandates to present themselves as a legitimate executive council. The development was described as unfortunate and shameful.

The chairman identified those currently parading as executives through what he called a kangaroo congress as Prince Preye Okrikpa, former Chairman; John Loukiri, former Vice Chairman; Clement Numah, former Secretary; Michael Konkemele, former Public Relations Officer; and a few other former members and youths. He said the move was misleading and unacceptable.

He said the current administration was duly nominated by the recognized families that constitute the Odidi Community and was officially sworn in at the heart of the community on May 13, 2026.

The statement also criticized the past administration for spending four years in office without producing a constitution or recording any meaningful achievements, yet now citing the proposed writing of a constitution as a basis for tenure elongation.

It questioned why the past administration failed to produce a constitution during its four-year tenure, asking whether it was only now waking up from slumber after its tenure had expired.

The chairman categorically stated that there is no parallel executive in the Odidi Federated Community.

He affirmed that the only legal and authentic administration is the one led by Comrade Truston Gesikeme Gbenekama, whose tenure began on May 13, 2026, and will end on May 13, 2030, as a single four-year tenure without extension.

The public was advised to disregard any contrary publication issued by the former administration in its entirety.

The statement further expressed regret that certain individuals issued disclaimers concerning the oil spill affecting Odidi Communities and its environment for over two months, instead of focusing on the plight of the people.

It said the current administration, upon assuming office and witnessing the suffering of the people, immediately took proactive steps by calling on the relevant authorities for swift intervention. The chairman described it as disturbing that some persons would rather engage in unnecessary publications than support efforts to address the environmental crisis.

This attitude, the statement said, further shows that the past administration had little concern for the welfare of the people and the environment, and is widely perceived as a diaspora administration disconnected from the realities facing the people it once governed.

The statement concluded that the Truston Gesikeme Gbenekama-led administration remains fully committed to providing responsible governance, quality leadership, peace, unity, and the overall transformation and development of Odidi Communities.

The statement read”
“We are not engaged in any media war with past administration led by prince preye Okrikpa; however, in the interest of setting the records straight, we have deemed it necessary to make this publication public.

“It is important to remind the public that Prince Preye Okrikpa, before becoming Chairman of the Odidi Community, was a strong advocate against tenure elongation. The issue of tenure extension had long been settled in Odidi Community, and he himself benefited from the principle of no tenure extension.

“His present actions only portray desperation, greed, and a disregard for the established leadership structure of the community. No amount of media publication can validate the expired administration of Prince Preye Okrikpa.

“Odidi Community operates a family-based leadership structure, and it is therefore unacceptable for individuals with expired mandates to parade themselves as a legitimate executive council. This development is unfortunate and shameful.

“Those currently parading themselves as executives through what can best be described as a kangaroo congress include Prince Preye Okrikpa (Former Chairman), John Loukiri (Former Vice Chairman), Clement Numah (Former Secretary), Michael Konkemele (Former Public Relations Officer), alongside a few other former members and youths. This is both misleading and unacceptable.

“The current administration was duly nominated by the recognized families that make up the Odidi Community and was officially sworn in at the heart of the Odidi Community on May 13, 2026.

“It is equally unfortunate that an administration which spent four years in office without producing a constitution or leaving behind any meaningful achievements is now using the proposed writing of a constitution as a basis for tenure elongation.

“The question remains: why did the past administration fail to produce a constitution during its four-year tenure? Or are they only waking up from slumber after their tenure has expired?

“We wish to categorically state that there is no parallel executive in the Odidi Federated Community.

“The only legal and authentic administration is the one led by Comrade Truston Gesikeme Gbenekama, whose tenure commenced on May 13, 2026, and will terminate on May 13, 2030 — a single four-year tenure without extension.

“The general public is therefore advised to disregard in its entirety any contrary publication from the former administration.

“Furthermore, it is regrettable that certain individuals chose to issue disclaimers concerning the oil spill currently ravaging Odidi Communities and its environment for over two months, instead of focusing on the plight of the people.

“The current administration, upon assuming office and witnessing the suffering of the people, immediately took proactive steps by calling on the relevant authorities for swift intervention. It is therefore disturbing that some persons would rather engage in unnecessary publications than support efforts aimed at addressing the environmental crisis.

“This attitude further demonstrates that the past administration has little concern for the welfare of the people and the environment. It is widely perceived as a diaspora administration disconnected from the realities facing the people they once governed.

“The Truston Gesikeme Gbenekama-led administration remains fully committed to providing responsible governance, quality leadership, peace, unity, and the overall transformation and development of Odidi Communities”, the community added.