The crisis is about who becomes the first vice president and who takes other positions in the community.
Oil-rich Olomoro community in the Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta state has accused the state House of Assembly majority leader and member representing Isoko South constituency 1, Ferguson Onwo, of sponsoring a crisis in the area.
The crisis is about who becomes the first vice president and who takes other positions in the community.
Olomoro community has been thrown into a leadership tussle for the past two months with the House of Assembly majority leader allegedly insisting on producing the next first vice president of the community.
This, allegedly, is to protect his interest at the Heritage Oil company operating in the area.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, an indigene of the community who simply identified himself as Oruaro, said, "If this little crisis in the community should snowball into a full-blown bloody crisis, the Delta State House of Assembly majority leader, Ferguson Onwo who is also the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) candidate for the Isoko South constituency 1 in the 2023 House of Assembly election, should be held accountable.
“The first vice president position is zoned to Ukoli community where Ferguson Onwo hails from and his anointed candidate, Godday Umah who is an aide to the commissioner for oil and gas and Alex Izogo are the two contenders for the position and Onwo said over his dead body will Alex Izogo, the most popular and the choice of the people be. As a result, he's causing crisis and organising kangaroo elections here and there.
"Ferguson Onwo has continued to threaten sons of the community working in Heritage Oil company with sacking should they support Alex Izogo who the people want. Onwo is using his position as the majority leader to intimidate and harass all dissenting voices. Prior to the scheduled date for the election, everywhere was tense and the chairman of Ukoli quarters, who is also a contestant for the office of assistant secretary-general, Evi Festus Jonny, postponed the election indefinitely.
"After some days without any notice, people only heard that a secret election being sponsored by the majority leader was about to take place in the Isoko South council secretariat, Oleh. At this point, Alex Izogo and his supporters stormed the council and disrupted the election with a protest before the anointed candidate of the majority leader and his accomplices left to an unknown location only for pictures to surface online that the election has been conducted and votes apportioned to other candidates who did not even participate in the election."
Reacting to the crisis, Alex Izogo, alleged that Onwo was behind the crisis consuming the entire community following his alleged move to impose the first vice president on the people.
He said, "I have not been in a good relationship with Onwo for some time now, even before the election that is generating a series of crises in the community now because of my stand against certain things not favourable to Onwo's interest.
“He was instrumental to my sacking from my workplace. Though we reconciled after that, he has not repented. He is using his government position as the majority leader to oppress dissenting voices. I shall seek legal redress to correct whatever kangaroo election he may have conducted.
“I have called on the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, the Isoko South council chairman and all relevant security agencies to hold Onwo responsible should there be a total breakdown of law and order in the community and I shall seek legal redress.”
SaharaReporters reliably gathered that one of the contesters for the community president general position, Efe Ozoro Okolosi has instituted legal action and obtained an injunction stopping the conduct of the election following alleged irregularities and disobedience to the new state community regulation law.
Despite the court order, the election committee in Egbo quarters where Okolosi hails from went ahead to conduct the election. Subsequently, Okolosi went ahead to file for contempt of court which has been served on both the electoral committee and those who authorised the election.
Efforts made by SaharaReporters to get the reaction of Onwo were not successful as he did not answer his calls. He also did not reply to the messages sent to his mobile line.