Army quells hostility against oil facility in Odidi community over leadership tussle

Chinazor Megbolu

The Nigerian Army has quelled hostilities in Odidi, an oil rich community of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State over leadership tussle.

The tussle, between the former community Chairman, Chief Johnny Arigbogha and the present Chairman, Mr. Preye Okrikpa has continued with legal battle in court.

The tension in the community by the youths loyal to Arigbogha, had stormed the community on Thursday May 13, 2021 to shut down the flow station operated by NECONDE before they were intercepted by the military men of the Safe Delta.

The Army warned the youths and elders to desist from act of sabotage for the sake of communal leadership.

It was  reliably gathered that a petition was addressed to NECONDE by a law firm retained by Chief Dr. S.Y Mamamu, Mr. James Meneko Deribi, Mr. Gilbert Deribi and Mr. Andrew Atunu and to security operatives in favour of Chief Johnny Arigbogha- led administration.

“Our clients informed us that you the Managing Director of Obijackson Group of Companies, Operator of Neconde Energy Services Limited OML 42, of which Odidi Federated Community is one of the host communities alleged that the company is dabbling into Odidi Federated Community’s internal affairs by sponsoring the current Odidi community chairman, Prince Preye Okrikpa,” the petition stated.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of Odidi Community, Mr. Clement Numah told news men that the tenure of the past community Chairman, Chief Arigbogha end­ed since November 24, 2020, and a unanimous decision by chiefs, elders, youths and women of the community to inaugurate the new leadership of a 20-man executive member to manage the affairs of the community which was implemented and Preye Okrikpa was sworn-in as Chairman to pilot the affairs of  Odidi com­munity since December 2020.

He further pointed out that no organisation sponsored Preye Okrikpa led administration, stressing that Arigbogha and his counterparts took a decision to make Okrikpa led legitimate government ungovernable with several threats of violence, defamation and litigations.

“We were surprised that Aribogha and his cohorts chose to bypass the court that is handling the matter and resorted to constitute violence and hostilities on the company with threats and unfounded accusations against NECONDE, alleging that the company is sponsoring Prince Preye Okrikpa,” Numah said.

He posited that Arigbogha is taking all illegal action to outsmart a court of competent jurisdiction, which was handling a matter he took before them in Warri Delta State.

Numah, however, alleged that Arigbogha’s mobilisation of hoodlums to shutdown Odidi community flow station operated by NPDC, NECONDE Joint venture recently, was an act of criminality and uncalled for if not that the military intervened.