Bayelsa community youths exile 28 elders, chiefs for attending Sylva’s birthday

No fewer than 28 chiefs and prominent individuals of Opu-Nembe Community in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have been driven into exile by the president of the community’s youths body, Mr. Ayerite Moses, for attending the birthday party of the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.

The spokesman for the affected chiefs and elders, Chief Monday Degi, during a press conference in Yenagoa said that they are appealing for the permanent occupation of military personnel in good numbers to forestall further unleashing of mayhem, as the youths have destroyed over twenty (20) houses and properties worth hundreds of millions belonging to them. 

Speaking further, Chief Degi, said that the youth president who has been having clashes with one Mr. Kojo Sam, a close ally of Chief Sylva, over personal economic and financial dealings, is in the habit of sending armed youths to destroy and loot houses and personal properties of persons perceived to be close to his enemies.

The affected chiefs who claimed that their right of citizenship and indigeneship of Opu-Nembe community is being infringed upon, blamed the Executive of the Chiefs’ Council of Opu-Nembe for leaving the matter unchecked or put under control until an invasions of the community by armed youths in July, 2021 and in February 2023.

 Chief Degi said “there was peace and tranquility enjoyed by the Opu-Nembe (Bassambiri) community before inauguration of the present Youth Body in May 2020. This relative peace and tranquility continued until Mr. Ayerite Ebinimi Moses led Youths leadership and Mr. Kojo Sam (their master) had issues bothering on their personal economic and financial dealings.

“These issues were left unchecked or put under control by the Executive of the Chiefs’ Council until alleged invasions in July, 2021 and in February 2023 of the Opu-Nembe ,Bassambiri, Community. As it is usual with clashes of rival gangs or Youths, there were casualties. 

“Rather than dealing with so-called invaders, which they claimed they know, the Ayerite Ebinimi Moses led Youth leadership, hiding under the guise of these invasions has been wrecking havoc on the Opu-Nembe Bassambiri Community.

“Mr. Ayerite Ebinimi Moses has promoted cultism, gangsterism and other social vices under these pretenses. The present social unrest, gangsterism and havoc created by Ayerite Ebinimi Moses led Youths leadership are in the areas stated hereunder:-

“Destruction of Houses and Personal Properties of Perceived and Apparent

‘Enemies’: The Mr. Ayerite Ebinimi Moses led Youths of Opu-Nembe are on the rampage, destroying and looting houses and personal properties of perceived and apparent ‘enemies’. 

“Since the inception of the Ayerite Ebinimi Moses youths leadership, the community is witnessing sporadic violence and endless social unrest, which has become phenomenal. Over twenty (20) houses and properties worth hundreds of millions have been vandalized in the community without provocation.

“Forced Exiling of Traditional Chiefs and Prominent People from the Community:

It has become a phenomenal act of the youths of Opu-Nembe (Bassambiri) to send on exile any perceived enemies who tries to speak against their criminal reign and fetishism in the community. 

“Precisely on Saturday, 8′ July, 2023, the president of the youths federation, Mr. Ayerite Ebinimi Moses pronounced the exiling of 28 Chiefs from Opu-Nembe (Bassambiri). That, the said Chiefs attended the birthday party of His Excellency, Chief (Hon.) Timipre Marlin Sylva, former Minister of Petroleum, State.

“We cannot decipher the rationale that prompted such prerogative and bizarre act.

The question is: when did such act of celebrating with a son and brother in his birthday become a crime in Opu-Nembe and/or anywhere in world? And the consequence of such is the loosing of the right of citizenship or indigeneship of Opu-Nembe (Bassambiri) Community.

“Fragrant Violation of the Constitutional Provisions Bothering on Freedom of Association, and of Speech. In reference to number 2 (above), we the affected Traditional Chiefs and prominent people of the community do not comprehend what section of the Nigerian Constitution vis-à-vis the constitution of the Opu-Nembe Council of Chiefs that was violated by us, regarding the attending of someone’s birthday party.

“We therefore, would want to ask: on what premises and temerity the youth president and his cohorts are exercising the power to ostracize or exile us and our houses immediately invaded, vandalized and property looted away. Therefore, we are calling on relevant law enforcement agency, such as the Police, Military (JIF), DSS, etc. to come to our aid and enthrone peace in the community.

“There should be permanent occupation of military personnel in good numbers to forestall further unleashing of mayhem, gangsterism, rape and cultism by Mr.

Ayerite Ebinimi Moses led youths body on the innocent and law abiding citizens of Opu-Nembe community. A stitch in time saves nine.”

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