There is a brewing tension in Azikoro, a fast growing metropolitan community, in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State, as two wearing faction in the community is set to go to war over the next youth President of the area.
Already, the disagreement has pitched the state government through the Commissioner for Sports and Youths Development, Daniel Igali, and the traditional leadership of the community, led by its Paramount Ruler, HRH Ike Napoleom, against each other with both threatening fire and brimstone.
Trouble started when the tenure of the the former youth president of the community, Gentle Levi, expired in September 2020, and in the quest to hold another election, factions emerged among the eight families that constituted the community.
Guardian gathered that the in an attempt to quell any trouble, the paramount ruler, Ike Napoleon, wrote to the commissioner of youths and sports, who constituted an Electoral body to conduct the election, after the first committee championed by the former President was rejected by the community leaders.
So, on the the 24th ofOctober, 2020, the Paramount Ruler and other members of the his cabinet on a letter written to the Governor of the state, stated that election was held and declared same day, where Success Douglas was declared winner.
In the petition where the paramount ruler called on the state governor to call his his commissioner to order, it stated that the commissioner, came to the community when the new executives has been inaugurated and nullified the election without informing the traditional ruler.
The petition added, “Surprisingly, however, on the evening Saturday, 24th October, 2020. The Commissioner of youths and sports, Daniel Igali, made a radio announcement that there wasbno election and that the former youth President continue to act.”
The traditional and his cabinet in an interview with our correspondent, tasked the governor to hold his commissioner (Igali) responsible for any breach of the peace in the community, as the tension mounts.
As it stands, the former President, recognized by the commissioner has refused to relinquish power, while the elected Exco led by Success Douglas, remain resolute.
The stand of the Traditional Ruler and the commissioner has not help matters as both are not willingly to yield ground, while the commissioner insisted on the former President to continue as acting capacity, the community ruler insisted that election has been conducted where Success Douglas emerged.
A visit to the community shows grave tension among the residents in the community as factions had emerged among the youths, especially during the collection of development levies. One of such tension was quickly quell by the quick intervention of the police on Wednesday, when our correspondent visited.
Speaking with Guardian, at his palace, HRH Napoleon, said the former President, Gentle Levi, tenure has expired and based on his nefarious activities, the community decided not to re-elect him for a second term.
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He said prior to the election which brought in the new executives, the community traditional leadership has excommunicated him from the community, but was amazed by recent developments.
On his part the Commissioner for Youth and Sport, Daniel Igali, said the traditional rulers are his cabinet were the ones trying to play smart.
He said he only intervened when matters when going out of hand during the election and therefore asked that the election been postponed while the former President remain in acting capacity.
He said, “we don’t have two president in Azikokoro, whose terms has elapsed but because of the political solution to a problem, he is still holding power until we do another election and whoever wins takes over, they did not conduct any election.
“The way forward is for them to elect an Electoral Committee (ELECO) and do their election and we are waiting for them to do the needful.”
