BEVERLY HILLS, November 12, (THEWILL) – The crisis brewing in Odimodi community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta state has been allegedly traced to the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Mr. Ovie Agas, whom the community had allegedly accused of using his office to shield suspected criminals and illegal oil bunkerers.
Sources said that Agas had incurred the wrath of the community following his alleged meddlesomeness in the community’s affairs of which they accused him of trying to plant his cronies in the leadership position of the oil producing community.
This development, sources said, followed a letter purportedly written from the office of the SSG marked No.SC/T.6/Vol.78/191 in October of which he reportedly said that after a meeting with the community representatives, it was resolved and agreed on by all parties that the executive committee set up by the community should be dissolved to pave the way for another committee selected by an Eluwe Congress under the supervision of the embattled chairman of Burutu local government council.
The letter from the SSG office which had deepened the crisis in the community had allegedly directed that all pending court cases should be withdrawn and directed security agencies to maintain surveillance until the return of total peace.
According the community leaders, the letter signed by A.C Abuah on behalf of the SSG, said: “… the security agencies have been directed to deal with anybody or group of persons who violates the above stated resolutions.”
But reacting to the development, in a letter addressed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and made available to THEWILL, the leadership of the community denounced the ‘Resolution’ and ‘agreement’ claimed by the Ovie Agass-led meeting, alleging that the SSG was bending the truth.
Signed by Apostle Monday Laide, Elder Anthony Pudie, Chief Godspower Omonime and Chief SMB Bibaikefie (JP), members of the Chiefs/Elders Council, Amadiwei-in-Council among others, the letter said; “The fact that such agreements were not reached is underscored by the threat to use the security agencies to ‘deal with anybody or group of persons who violate’ them. You will agree that if all parties had agreed … there would be no need for the threats contained in his letter or fears of violating the said resolutions reached with the SSG.”
The petitioners however accused the SSG of attempting to force a predetermined “unilateral and dictatorial resolution” down their throat in order to protect his perceived allies and cronies who have been fingered in the crimes against the community.
“The SSG is acting the script of the trio of the Chairman of Burutu LGC, a serving member of the Delta State House of Assembly and a one-time commissioner in the state. Two of the suspects who attacked, bombed and burnt down our homes are currently political aides of the same trio,” the community said.
“The SSG is poised to shield these criminals who are his cronies and without any moral sense appoint these same persons to run our community government. The SSG is simply adding salt to injury and this will be difficult to take by the Odimodi people,” the community said.
THEWILL recalls that Odimodi has been engulfed in crisis since August after suspected militants raided the community, leaving in its trail death, pains and unwanton destruction of properties worth millions of naira.
The crisis was allegedly triggered by a terse letter from Burutu Local Government Council, signed by the Secretary, Hon Awisi Victor alleging that Governor Okowa had directed the Local Government Council to oversee “the selection of a new caretaker committee to be headed by Ifiekorowei son by the Eluwe Congress of Odimodi Community.”
However, yet another purported directive by the state government through the SSG to security operatives to allegedly ‘storm’ the community on October 23 and install a new executive for the community was said to have worsen the crisis in the community.
Efforts to reach Mr. Agas on his phone proved abortive as he didn’t respond to text messages concerning the subject.
