By Emma Arubi

The Ugborodo Community Trust Chairman, Mr. Austin Oboroegbeyi has condemned the action of some persons who attempted to prevent His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse 111 CFR, the Olu of Warri from entering Ode – Ugborodo recently.

The condemnation came at an enlarged meeting of sons and daughters of the oil-rich Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State called to discuss the state of affairs of the Community.

Opening the discussion at Ugborodo House, Tuesday 13th February, 2024, Pa. Igbiaye Edonmi stated that there is need for this type of meeting to keep our people abreast of happenings.

He then directed the
Oborogbeyi-led Trust Executive to
brief the people.

Mr. Oboroegbeyi in giving a run down of the state of affairs disclosed that retrogressive forces placed several stumbling blocks on their way that has hampered the smooth running of the Trust and blamed the traditional leadership in the Community and those who see themselves as lords but losing grip of power, as the major bane retarding the growth and developmental of Ugborodo.

“there are those who see some Ugborodo people and their opinions as inconsequential and believe that they can continue to lord it over every other person, as the primary source of persistent discord and disharmony in Ugborodo Community”, he stressed.

He maintained that Ugborodo Community where divergence of opinion is not respected and decision not by the consensus of all, will be difficult to move forward, except there is a change of attitude.

He advocated the need for the major power blocks to meet and dialogue for the interest of the entire Ugborodo Community.

Oboroegbeyi, a legal practitioner further pointed out that what is due monthly from the Community’s nominated Contractors to Chevron Nigeria Limited and other other oil Companies is not known as the Contractors are collaborating with some self – appointed leaders to cause poverty, unemployment and hunger in their blessed land, saying “for questioning the Contractors they must be dealt with”. 

He further revealed that what the Contractors do is to dish out peanuts as charity to Ugborodo Community at their whims and caprices, instead of entering proper negotiations with them as of right.

Mr. Oborogbeyi revealed that those pretending to be staging protest against Chevron Nigeria Limited in the guise of protesting against the PIA operational workings are only using the protest as smokescreen to fight for the survival of their Contracts in question, noting that they are in concert with the Companies wrecking havoc, poverty and underdevelopment on the entire Ugborodo Community and her indigenes.

Other speakers at the meeting called on the leadership
to save the people from hunger, saying “lack of any visible means of livelihood in Ugborodo Community also account for why the opposition who provides some kind of stipend monthly to them are getting their way sometimes”.

Pa. Igbiaye Edonmi assured that henceforth there will be such stakeholders regular meetings and that the issues identified would be appropriately addressed in due cause.

There was a general condemnation of the action of those Ugborodo people who attempted to prevent the entourage of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse lll CFR, from berthing at Ode -Ugborodo, describing such acts as abominable and unthinkable.