TENSION IN BAYELSA OVER CALL FOR REMOVAL OF TRADITIONAL HEAD

By Samuel Oyadongha
Indigenes of the coastal settlement of Oluasiri in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State are spoiling for showdown with their traditional head over alleged highhandedness.

Tension it was learnt flared up weekend in the coastal settlement as the aggrieved indigenes marched to the palace of their traditional head, calling for his immediate removal.

The protesters led by the Community Development Committee Chairman of Tengele Ama Community, Elder Isuku Koinbo, the Oluasiri Federation Youth President, Oguara Daniels, Leader of the Oluasiri Women, Inara Ebenezer, accused the traditional head of provoking alleged internal communal clashes, and activities that has stopped the community from benefiting from infrastructural development.

It was however learnt that the traditional head had fled the community before the protest march as his aggrieved subjects were said to have tied grasses and palm front around his palace to symbolize that they have rejected him.

Speaking with newsmen on the development, the Oluasiri Youth Federation President, Mr. Oguara Daniel said the protest was an off_shoot of the problems of misrule endured by the people of the community.

'He is a leader that does not listen to his people; the people want a leader that will bring development to the community,' he added.

The Chairman of the Oluasiri Council of Elders, Peter Ben Isaiah said though they have written to the Bassambiri Council of Chiefs and the State Traditional Rulers Council on the development, 'we don't want crises and the reign of the embattled king has brought untold hardship and crises to us. We are saying he should go to avoid violence,'

Peter Ben Isaiah commended the Nembe Bassambiri Council of Chiefs for selecting the first leader for Oluasiri Community when it was in crisis but regretted that he (traditional head) had failed his people.