CHIEFTAINCY CRISIS: Bayelsa Govt Dissolves Gbarantoru Caretaker Cttee
... Directs Parties To Maintain Status Quo Ante
The Bayelsa State Government has announced the immediate dissolution of the Caretaker Committee set up to oversee the affairs of Gbarantoru Community in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.
The government also directed all the parties embroiled in the Gbarantoru Chieftaincy dispute to maintain the leadership status-quo ante predating the court judgement that invalidated the election of the community’s paramount ruler, His Royal Highness Igonia Dakolo.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, handed down the directive at a meeting with the two parties, representatives of the Ekpetiama Clan Council of Chiefs and government officials at his office in Government House, Yenagoa, on Tuesday.
He urged all parties directly involved in the communal leadership crisis to stop forthwith any actions that would undermine peace and progress in the community, as the matter is before the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division.
Underscoring the need for people to sacrifice personal interests for the common good of their communities, the Deputy Governor appealed to the feuding factions in Gbarantoru to maintain the peace while awaiting the outcome of the subsisting legal suit.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, however, assured that government would assist both parties by ensuring the case gets accelerated hearing and subsequent judgement in real time with a view to laying the matter to final rest for sustainable peace and stability of the community.
His words: “Unity is essential to us in our various communities. There is compelling need for us to quickly resolve our intra-communal differences and work together for peace to thrive.
“We have met before. But this meeting is convened to communicate the state government’s position on the lingering crisis in Gbarantoru. First, the caretaker committee in Gbarantoru is hereby dissolved with immediate effect.
“Secondly, we believe that an appeal is in itself a stay of execution. There are plethora of authorities that support this position in law. So the status-quo ante stands while the appeal is pending at the appellate court.
“Government on its part will expedite action for the speedy determination of the appeal. So, everyone should maintain the peace in that community.
“We will assist you people to file for accelerated hearing for the matter to be heard quickly on its merit so that at the end of it all, the rightful people will become the leaders of the community.”
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Gbogbo Ebipa led-faction, Mr. Indali Kemela Steve, thanked government for its intervention but noted that all the parties would have been satisfied if government had appointed a neutral body to hold brief for the disputed Amananaowei stool until the final determination of the case at the law court.
The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Biriyai Dambo (SAN), Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Ebiuwou, Koku-Obiyai, her Agriculture counterpart, Prof. Beke Sese and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Thompson Amule, attended the meeting.
Also in attendance were the Commissioner for Community Development, Hon. Alfred Watson Belemote, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor, Comrade Gowon Toruyouyei, Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Mr Bulodisiye Ndiware, Special Adviser on Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Perekeme Bertola, among other government officials.
Meanwhile the Ekpetiama Council of Chiefs was represented at the meeting by the paramount ruler of Bumoundi Community, His Highness Maurice Lagos, and his Ikibiri counterpart, His Highness Izonbodei Engeribo.
Also present were the Gbarantoru Paramount Ruler, His Royal Highness Igonia Dakolo; and members of the Chief Gbogbo Ebipa led-faction.
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