Chief Newton Ogboinmienye, Paramount Ruler in Koluama 2, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa, has urged youths from his domain to maintain the peace following a new nomination to the KEFFES Rural Development Foundation.
KEFFES covers Koluama 1 and 2, Ezetu 1 and 2, Foropa, Fishtown, Ekeni and Sangana, the communities are parties to the Global Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chevron and First E & P which funds development projects in the area.
Ogboinmienye, who spoke in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Monday made the appeal following a disagreement over his nomination of a youth representative who emerged from an election.
The monarch explained that the allegations of supporting one of the candidates from the youth elections was unfounded.
He stressed that he remains a father to all his subjects adding that he made the recommendation based on reports that the conflict was resolved amongst the candidates.
“The crisis is unnecessary and regrettable. I have been in service of Koluama 2 community for 36 years now and I do not take take sides.
“The election ended in a tie following the voiding of some votes adjudged as invalid. I was told that the two candidates have accepted the results of the election and I wrote a recommendation letter.
“Much later the aggrieved candidate wrote a petition that he did not accept the offer of the resolution, and demanded that I should withdraw the letter nominating his opponent.
“But my position is to await the outcome of the mediation process underway.
“The recommendation letter is irrevocable, I cannot withdraw it until the mechanism already in motion is concluded before I can write another letter, and that is the process I want them to understand and keep the peace Koluama 2 is known for,” Ogboinmienye said.
He said that the youths should imbibe the civilised habit of using established channels of conflict resolution rather than resorting to violence.
KEFFES Rural Development Foundation (KRDF) was set up for the eight Chevron host communities located along the Atlantic coastline.
Following the 2015 divestment from Oil Mining Leases 83 and 85 by Chevron to First E&P, an indigenous firm, the new owners entered into an agreement with the host communities and adopted the governance structure of KRDF
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