Delta community besiege Deputy Governor’s office over alleged imposition of candidate by council chairman [PHOTOS]

7 years ago

Delta community besiege Deputy Governor’s office over alleged imposition of candidate by council chairman [PHOTOS]

Members of Enhwe community in their hundreds besieged the entrance gate of the deputy governor’s office in hot protest as they carry placards with inscriptions such as “We Don’t Need Efekodha as king, So he should keep away from Enwhe kingship,” “The local government cannot give us king, so no one should impose any king on us,” “We don’t need a tyrant leader in Enwhe community,” “We know our king so no one should impose any king on us,” among others.

An indigene of Enwhe community, Pa Silas Obo, who spoke on behalf of the protesters stated that, Enwhe community has chosen Prince Onobredefe Panama out of the two candidates by the Erabe ruling family as its choice candidate for the traditional stool.

Pa Silas accused one of the candidates for the traditional stool, Rt. Hon. Anthony Efekhoda who had refused to accept the position and choice of the community of allegedly oppressing them with government powers and connections.

In his words: “We the people of Enwhe have resolved within ourselves and we have chosen who will rule us between RT. Hon. Anthony Efekodha and Prince Julius Panama. But the other person ,RT. Hon. Anthony Efekodha does not want to accept our decision. He is using his government power to oppress the whole Enwhe community and we say no to it.

While noting that Enwhe community is a peace loving community, Pa Silas stated that the community protested to the Deputy Governor’s office because they don’t want war or any bloodshed in their land, pointing out that, “We believed in our customs and the norms of our land. We need somebody who is loyal and ready to serve his people. Not a tyrant leader, and Prince Julius Panama is the rightful person we have chosen to lead us.”

He also on behalf of Enwhe community called on the Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro to call the local government council chairman, Hon. Malik Ikpokpo to withdraw his hands from the Enwhe Kingship tussle, alleging that, “Hon.Malik Ikpokpo is imposing Rt. Hon. Anthony Efekodha on us as king.”

Addressing the protesters, the Area Commander of the State Police Headquarters, DCP Undie Adie at the entrance gate to the deputy governor’s office, advised them to channel their grievances in paper and submit same to the Secretary to the Deputy Governor, stressing that the request will be given prompt
attention.

He urged the protesters not take the laws into their hands and go about the matter in a peaceful way, adding that, “I assure you all that, I will meet the governor and the deputy governor on this your matter.”

Efforts to speak with the Chairman, Isoko South Local Government Council, Hon. Malik Ikpokpo were unsuccessful as calls put across to his mobile phone couldn’t go through.