Bayelsa constitutes committee to probe Anibeze chieftaincy crisis, warns against ostracism

From Amgbare Prince in Yenagoa

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The Bayelsa State Government has constituted a seven-member committee to investigate the chieftaincy dispute rocking Anibeze community in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

It has a mandate to unravel its causes and recommend solutions, officials said on Tuesday.

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The committee was inaugurated by Deputy Governor Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo during a meeting at Government House, Yenagoa, with Anibeze stakeholders and key officials, including Mrs. Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown, the Sagbama Constituency Three representative in the State House of Assembly, is tasked with determining the legitimacy of two rival chiefs vying for the paramount ruler position.

It will examine compliance with the Bayelsa State Chieftaincy Law and ascertain whether the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs recognizes either claimant, specifying the basis for any recognition.

The panel is also charged with facilitating fresh elections for the Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman and youth president, ensuring the CDC chairmanship is zoned to the appropriate quarter in line with community tradition.

Additionally, it will verify the existence of a functional community constitution and, if none exists, initiate the process of drafting one to guide Anibeze’s governance.

The committee has a three-week deadline to submit its report.

In a related development, Senator Ewhrudjakpo declared the purported removal of the current CDC chairman, Mr. Akeni Anthony, and youth president, Mr. David Ufuana, as illegal, directing them to serve out their terms before new elections.

He called on Anibeze residents to maintain peace and condemned ostracism as a violation of constitutional rights, warning against acts of lawlessness.

The committee is chaired by Mr. Michael Magbisa, Commissioner for Special Duties, Bayelsa West, with Mrs. Mercy Alafuro, Head of Exco in the Deputy Governor’s Office, as secretary. Other members are High Chief Perekeme Bertola, Special Adviser on Chieftaincy Affairs; Mr. Tarikebi Egbide, Chairman, Rural Development Authority, Toru Abubou; Mr. Tari Afenfia, Councillor for Ward 13, Sagbama; Mr. Tamunobere Oguoh, Governor’s Special Representative for Sagbama; and Mr. Vote Salem, Technical Adviser on Boundary Matters.