WARRI – Commercial activities in volatile Ekpan Community in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State were last Friday grounded, as residents of the community, came out in their thousands in a peaceful protest, calling for the removal of Chief Newton Agbofodoh as the Unuevworo (Traditional Head/spokesman) of Ekpan community.
The placards and leaves bearing protesters said, Ekpan residents were fed up with the said Unuevworo, as they alleged that Chief Newton Agbofodoh has been the mastermind behind the mindless and incessant killings, assassination, kidnappings and crisis rocking the community since 2004.
The Ekpan residents which included women , youths, men, women and children blocked one side of the ever busy Jakpa dual -carriage road during the peaceful protest, while chanting “Ekpan for peace, Jesus don take over”, we want peace” , marched from the community town hall to the palace of Ovie of Uvwie kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1, calling on the Uvwie Monarch to withdraw the chieftaincy title given to Chief Agbofodoh, alleging that he was responsible for continuously fanning the embers of the incessant crisis rocking the community since his release from prison in 2004.
Organizers of the peaceful protest, Ekpan Integrity Group (EIG) headed by Barrister Innocent Akpototedja-Adjenughure and Hon. Urumedji Kingsley, President and Secretary respectively, in a letter officially handed over to the royal father and also made available to the press, EIG alleged that Chief Agbofodoh has been the cause of all the crisis facing the community.
Part of the letter read, “Some time ago in 2011, or there about, stakeholders in Ekpan under the platform of Coalition of Ekpan Groups mobilized to your palace to demand and appealed that Chief Newton Agbofodoh should not be made Ekpan Community leader because he lacked the credibility , character and qualities that was expected of a leader. As the that time, Chief Newton Agbofodoh had faced three murder charges and two other criminal charges. In one of the cases, he undertook with the State Government to maintain peace and orderliness in the community and undertaking was entered as the judgement of the court”.
“Despite these facts, he had not ceased to engaged in nefarious activities in the community. This has recently led to his being arrested and charged to court again for murder. Even before this time, he was paraded along his son Darlington for possession of firearms illegally by the then Joint Task Force( JTF )” .
They therefore, called on the monarch to withdraw the chieftaincy title given to Chief Agbofodoh for his dictatorial and tyrannical leadership which they alleged has plunged the community into the present crisis it was facing today.
The group also accused Chief Agbofodoh of unilaterally recommending his cronies for contract and employment without transparency and due process.
The group said; He (Agbofodoh) also amended the Ekpan Development Committee Constitution without following the procedure as stated in the constitution and with the unilaterally amended constitution he handpicked the present committee stating that, ‘I am the Unuevworo and if anyone is not satisfied with my action should wait until you are enthroned as Unuevworo’.
We are therefore demanding the removal of Chief Newton Agbofodoh as the Unuevworo of Ekpan.
Representatives from the nine quarters that make up the community who spoke at the palace of the monarch all called for the removal of Chief Agbofodoh as their traditional head in the Ekpan, alleging that since his (Agbofodoh’s) arrest for alleged murder three weeks ago, the community has been enjoying peace.
One of the speakers who spoke on behalf of one of the nine quarters in the community, Mr. Williams Akpolo stressed that peace eluded the community since Chief Agbofodoh was made a chief in the community. He alleged that since Chief Agbofodoh was made a chief in the community, assassination and murder became the order of the day in the community.
Others who spoke on behalf of their quarters all revolted against Chief Agbofodo. They appealed to the monarch to withdraw the chieftaincy title given to Chief Agbofodoh, saying that his removal was the only solution for lasting peace in the community.
In his response, the Uvwie Monarch , Abe 1, thanked the people for their peaceful disposition during the protest and appealed for calm and understanding, saying that he will respond to their demands at the appropriate time.
The monarch however assured the people that he will do everything necessary to ensure that peace returns to the community.
While responding to their request for the immediate withdrawal of the Chieftaincy title given to Chief Agbofodoh, the monarch, however, reminded them that Chief Agbofodoh is under arrest for alleged murder, adding that until Chief Agbofodoh is proven guilty or otherwise, he will not want to delve into a matter that was before the court.
He assured that if Chief Agbofodoh is convicted,he and his chiefs will not hesitate to take necessary action.
The traditional ruler also told his protesters that the palace was working asidiously in ensuring that lasting peace is restored to the community and to also bring the two factions in the community together.
