By Osahon Osahon
The people of oil-rich Ugborodo community in the Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State have dissolved the Austin Oboroegbeyi-led Ugborodo Community Interim Caretaker Committee (UCICC).
It, however, inaugurated Prince Perry Atete to chair the new interim executive committee to pilot the affairs of the community.
The dissolution of the Oboroegbeyi-led committee, it was gathered, is not unconnected with the ongoing investigation by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged embezzlement of the community funds.
The newly sworn-in chairman of the UCICC, Prince Atete has, however, promised to unite Ugborodo indigenes home and abroad who have been divided as a result of the lingering leadership crises in the community.
Prince Atete who is also the Igbajor of Ugborodo and executive member of the Ugborodo Community Council of Elders, made the statement at the inaugural general meeting of the UCICC held at Ode-Ugborodo on Saturday July 11, 2020.
According to him, the little time available to the UCICC under his watch shall be particularly used to unite the parties involved in the lingering UCT crisis who have since resorted to encumber the UCT and Ugborodo Community generally with court cases, police and EFCC investigations and social media war.
“These unfortunate developments in Ugborodo Community must stop, to enable us move forward as a people because no development can ever come in these sorts of tensed atmosphere and mutual suspicions. We have to build peace and unite the community as soon as possible. This is the onerous task before us,” Prince Atete charged the UCICC executives and members, even as he thanked the entire Ugborodo Community for fully receiving the committee as demonstrated in the drumming, singing and dancing with which the special cultural troupe of the community welcomed the Chairman, executives and members of the UCICC into Ode-Ugborodo for their inaugural meeting as UCICC.
It would be recalled that the Ugborodo Community at a general meeting of the community held at Ode-Ugborodo on July 2, 2020, took a resolution to suspend the UCT under the Chairmanship of Mr. Austin Oboroegbeyi and in its place set up the UCICC. The community latter followed up with a 2-page Public Notices at pages 34 and 35 of the Vanguard newspapers of July 7, 2020 wherein the signed resolution and the constitution of the UCICC were published.
Part of the said resolution read: “As we all know, nature abhors vacuum and Ugborodo Community cannot afford to be without a day-to-day administrative organ. To this end and without prejudice to the matter in court and the ongoing police investigations into the alleged criminal diversion of Ugborodo Community funds into a private account by individuals, the Ugborodo Community Council of Elders at a well-attended interactive general meeting of Ugborodo Community held at Ode-Ugborodo on July 2, 2020 and having listened to views expressed by various attendees attendees at the meeting, resolved to invoke its constitutional powers in situations like this to immediately suspend indefinitely the said UCT and in its place, set up a Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of Ugborodo Community.”
Some other executive members of the UCICC are Mr. Emmanuel Tunu Onuwaje (Vice Chairman), Comrade Alex Eyengho (Assistant Secretary), Mr. Austin Ajurenmisan (Publicity Secretary) and Mr. Joseph Uwawah (Treasurer) among others.
