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KEFFES Rural Development Foundation suspends three Chiefs

Yenagoa— KEFFES Rural Development foundation have suspended three traditional Chiefs over their sponsorship of the recent crisis that rocked the foundation.

The suspended chiefs were community representatives on the foundation’s board.

They include; Chief Manash L. Oluzulu ( Foropa ), Chief Dekumo Sunday- Regent(Ekeni), and Chief Wagibowei Ngozi Down (Fish town).

Mangrovepen.ng gathered that the decision for their suspension was reached after they failed to appear during the enlarged meeting of the Board of Trustees of the foundation to explain their alleged involvement in the crisis within the organization.

The accusation was that the three chiefs backed the decision of Comrade Timiebi Woinemi Amadein group to misinterpret the order from a Bayelsa State High Court and conspired to change leadership through the back door.​

At the enlarged meeting of the foundation’s Board of Trustee (BOT) which was presided over by the BOT Secretary, H.R.H Israel Igbousa, Chief Martins Saighe moved the motion to suspend the three Chiefs which was seconded by H.R.H (Rev) Williams (Ezetu 2 community Traditional Ruler).

The BOT after suspending the three chiefs resolved that the communities which the suspended chiefs represented should deliberate and forward replacements to fill the vacant seats.

Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, an ex-officio member, Chief Christopher Tuduo, said the latest suspension was to end the saga rocking the foundation.

“The meeting is borne out the last gathering to decide on the crisis before this foundation. Today’s meeting is one agenda meeting but unfortunately, the three BOT members that were supposed to be here today to respond to questions that bother on the role they played in the lingering crisis were unable to make it but were represented by some community chiefs.

“So, the general stakeholders, which is the general assembly of the council met and decided that the three BOT members are suspended from the board. It must be clear that their communities are not suspended but the individuals are suspended.

“We expect the community concerned to write to the council on what they want to to to to to to do to with them and council will follow suit”

“Also, another matter was the issue of some members who erred and have apologized, though forgiven but there is one who is purported to be the secretary of the parallel executive wrongly created by Time and the matter came up and the BOT members formally forgive him for having written an apology letter that he was misled.”

“For now, there are five-person members who are still suspended, namely, Tibiebi Amadein, the chairman of the parallel executive, Kofa Murphy Daniel, Christopher Longlife, Amina James, and Ebitare Joseph”

“Also, the council has nominated me, Christopher Tuduo to act on behalf of the BOT members. They did so because they are elderly and weak in going about RDF Business. The move is novel and I was surprised, but I promised that I will take responsibility.”

“For those causing trouble within the council, they have been forgiven in advance but we want them to show that they are ready to come and work with us but we won’t go out to beg them. we are equal stakeholders and no person will undo the other person. Yes there may be one pocket of misunderstanding but we are all ready to forge ahead,” he said.

KEFFES is a foundation representing the eight Chevron Nigeria Limited host communities in Bayelsa comprising of Koluama 1 & 2, Ezetu 1 & 2, Foropa, Fish Town, Ekeni, and Sangana located along the Atlantic coastline of the State.

Recall that the KEFESS crisis was instigated by the alleged attempt by Comrade Tibiebi Woinemi Amadein in a suit against the chairmanship position of Mathew Selepri at the state high court, Oporoma division.

It was gathered that the High Court in its ruling did not declare the claimant, Tibiebi Woinemi Amadein as Chairman or executive of the KRDF.

But in defiance of the ruling of the court, he allegedly wrote a letter to Chevron Oil limited claiming victory and setting up a parallel executive of the foundation.

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