Leadership Tussle: Army Stops Hostility Against Oil Facility in Oil Rich Odidi OML 42 Community in Delta

Leadership Tussle: Army Stops Hostility Against Oil Facility in Oil Rich Odidi OML 42 Community in Delta

The Nigerian Army on Thursday May 13th 2021 averted hostility against an oil facility, NOCONDE in oil rich Odidi community, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State.

This came on the hills of leadership tussle between the former community Chairman, Chief Johnny Arigbogha and the current chairman Mr. Preye Okrikpa embroids in a  legal battle in court.

There was apprehension in the community as youths loyal to Arigbogha stormed the community on Thursday May 13th 2021 to shut down the flow station  operated by NECONDE before they were intercepted by the military men of the Safe Delta who warned the youths and elders to decist from act of sabotage for the sake of community leadership tussle.

Our source gathered that the intended action came after a petitioning was adressed to NECONDE by a law firm retained by Arigboha's loyalist, Chief Dr. S.Y Mamamu, Mr. James Meneko Deribi, Gilbert Deribi and Mr. Andrew Atunu to security operatives in favour of Chief Johnny Arigbogha's elapsed administration.

The petition in part says "Our clients informed us that you the managing Director of Obijackson Group of Companies, Operator of Neconde Energy Services Ltd 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".

However the Secretary  of  Odidi Community, Clement Numah informed news men on Friday that, May 14th in Warri that, the tenure of the past community chairman, Chief Johnny Aribogha end­ed since  November 24 2020, and a unanimous decision by chiefs, Elders, Youths and women of the community to inaugurate the new leadership of 20-man executive member to manage the affairs of the community was implemented and Preye Okrikpa was sworn-in as chairman to pilot the affairs Odidi com­munity December 2020.

Clement Numah stated categorically that no company sponsored Preye Okrikpa led administration, he also noted that Chief Johnny Aribogha and his cohorts have decided  to make Okrikpa led legitimate government ungovernable with several threts of violence, defamation and litigations.

He said. "We become settled when Chief Johnny Ariboghato and his undocumented elders councils seek redress in court, hoping that the court will give judgement that will restore  peace some day".

"We were suppressed that Aribogha and his followers choosed to bypassing the court that is handling the matter and resorted to constitute violence and hostilities on the company with threts and unfounded acusations against NECONDE, alleging that the company is sponsoring Prince Preye Okrikpa".

Numah called on security operatives to Arrest the former Odidi community Chairman, Chief Johnny Arigbogha for sinister moves, use of violence, criminality to bypass a Court process to truncate a constituted community leadership by creating tension and hostility.

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

 Numah alleged that Arigbogha Mobilisation of hudlons to shutdown Odidi community flow station operated by NPDC, NECONDE Joint venture recently, Was criminal  and uncalled for if not for military intervention.