- The leadership of the Ekpan Development Committee (EDC) has poured cold water on insinuations of coming into power illegally.
The EDC, a committee saddled with running the administrative affairs of Ekpan community, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, has said that its current set of executives was brought into office in the interest of justice and peace in the community
This was contained in a statement signed by Mr. Nanakpero Victory (EDC Chairman) and Mr. Utuedor Emmanuel (EDC Secretary), on Monday, clarifying the status quo of the EDC.
The clarification followed a claim by a coalition of groups accusing the Uvwie Council Chairman, Ramson Onoyake of violating the EDC’s constitution in collaboration with stakeholders.
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The groups had in a Press Release signed accused Onoyake of sidelining the existing 2008 constitution of Ekpan by appointing Victory Nanakpero into office.
However, in a swift reply on Monday, the EDC watered down the claims and allegations by the group on Mr. Onoyake and the stakeholders, adding that the Victory Nanakpero-led EDC leadership was duly elected.
The statement titled “RE: STAKEHOLDERS IN EKPAN ACCUSES UVWIE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN RAMSON ONOYAKE OF VIOLATION OF EKPAN CONSTITUTION”, reads in full;
“Our attention has been drawn to a publication made by “Coalition of all groups in Ekpan community” accusing the Uvwie local government Council Chairman, on the dissolution of
Caretaker Committee and reconstitution of substantial Ekpan Development Committee (EDC).
“To put the records straight, the reconstitution of the present Ekpan Development Committee (EDC), done on 1st August 2023, is a step in the right direction, this was done to correct the anomaly and injustice done 2 years ago against Etche r’ Oriokpor and the Ekpan People in general.
“We will recall that on 12th October 2021, the Uvwie local Government Council Chairman, abruptly dissolved a duly elected Mr. Stephen Akemu’s led executives, citing security concerns as the reason for carrying out that act.
“A dissolution that brought about the constitution of Mr. Obey Newton Onoadowan led caretaker committee, a committee alien to the Ekpan Development Committee (EDC) Constitution.
“This singular act of injustice triggered series of events in Ekpan Community, including wanton destruction of properties, loss of lives, protests, petitions and general crisis in the Community.
“Even the Inuevworos of Ekpan on 29th October 2021, spoke and wrote against the dissolution of the Ekpan Development Committee (EDC) and denounced the caretaker committee, that it is not known in the Constitution of the Ekpan Development Committee (EDC).
“Etche r’ Oriokpor as the Etche that produced the Stephen Akemu led exco, went to court with late Chief Dr. Robert Ejiforma and Lilian Uruesheyi as lead applicant to challenge the injustice against the Ekpan People.
“The legal battle continued for more then two years, during which, the Ekpan People suffered neglect, oppression, ill
-treatment and even deaths, occasioned by gross misconduct, corruption and misappropriation by the illegal caretaker committee.
“Until Thursday 8th June 2023, at the instance of His Royal Majesty, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, all stakeholders in the kingdom came together at a meeting, then agreed to end the impasse, in order to return Peace and stability to Ekpan Community, a communique was issued at the end of the meeting.
“Parts of the decisions reached was that for fairness and justice, the caretaker committee would be dissolved and the duly elected Ekpan Development Committee (EDC) executives whose tenure was terminated abruptly would be reconstituted.
“The Communique also gave Etche r Oriokpor the opportunity to nominate a person to replace late Stephen Akemu. This was what led to the emergence of Mr. Victory Nanakparo.
“The Ekpan Development Committee (EDC) executives has since been reconstituted and sworn-in as agreed
in the Communique. Etche r’ Oriokpor and indeed the entire Ekpan Community are satisfied that Justice has been done, Peace and development is gradually returning back to the Community.
“It’s amusing that a ragtag (5)-man gang labelling themselves as a coalition of all groups in Ekpan community, spearheaded by Matthew Emewakeme (a serial gangster, a hypocritical self-made apostle of none existing Church) would come out to accuse the Council Chairman of any wrongdoing. Other members of the gang are Onajite Awinoron, Obey Newton Onaodowan and Isaac Etigbinaye.
“It should be worthy of note that these persons are jobless, parasitic opportunists whose stock in trade is to cause confusion in Ekpan Community.
“They have no known handwork nor business they can point to, year in, year out, they are always looking to be in one Community position or another, in order to continue their parasitic indulgence. They speak only for their selfish interest, their appetite for Community positions and money is insatiable.
“One will wonder why a caretaker committee that was setup by the Council Chairman to hold brief for just 3 months, but has operated for more than 2 years and doesn’t want to leave any longer.
“They have turn back to call the same Council Chairman who appointed them unprintable names, because their parasitic proboscis has been cut off from Ekpan Community Money.
“Keen observers would notice that these persons are only prominent during crisis in the Community, they thrive only when there is crisis in Ekpan Community.
“They deliberately instigate problems and frustrate efforts and moves for Peaceful dialogue and reconciliation in the Community, because they feed fat from the crisis in Ekpan Community.
“But we give God Almighty the Glory, that Justice has been done, the crisis in Ekpan has come to an end, the duly elected Ekpan Development Committee (EDC) executives has resumed operation.
“To summarily put, the Obey Newton Onaodowan-led Caretaker Committee stands dissolved, the newly sworn-in executives has started operation with approvals from both the traditional council and the local government council. (see relevant documents attached).
“We are therefore, using this medium to alert the public, that If there be any form of crisis again in Ekpan Community, the Security operatives know where to get those who feed on crisis situations in the Community.”
