Palpable fear and unease have now pervaded Obazogbe Community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, as property worth millions of Naira have been destroyed and residents fleeing for their lives, following the leadership crisis allegedly precipitated by the refusal of the Chairman, Community Development Association (CDA), Mr. Augustine Osa whose tenure ended recently, to step down and hand over to the next man in line, Mr. Frank Ugiagbe.
Obazogbe Community is one of the oil and gas producing communities which include Oben, Igobi and Iguolaba, all in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State and the Community Development Association (CDA) Chairmanship position is pivotal to the development of oil and gas in the community.
According to reports, in order to forestall the brewing crisis and resolve the leadership tussle, the overall community leader and Odionwere of Obazogbe community, Pa Samuel Aiseruwa Osabuohien had commissioned one of his grandsons, 22-year-old Osabuohien Destiny to convene a meeting on July 26, 2016 to nip in the bud, the leadership crisis in which the CDA Chairman, Mr. Augustine Osa, having completed his tenure, refused to step down and hand over to Frank Ugiagbe as the new CDA Chairman, a development which led to protests and demonstrations by the youths of the community, culminating in unrest, breakdown of law and order.
Reports further confirmed that during the meeting of July 26, there was a stalemate, as the embattled CDA Chairman, Mr. Augustine Osa, the angry youths and other stakeholders in attendance could not arrive at a compromise, leading to a bigger crisis, in which the said CDA Chairman allegedly mobilised thugs from Benin City and other neighbouring communities to cause more violence.
In the confusion that ensued, the residence of the Odionwere, Pa Samuel Aiseruwa Osabuohien as well as the house of the CDA Chairman and several other properties belonging to residents in the community were destroyed, as thugs in their numbers stormed the Odionwere House, looking for the convener of the meeting, Osabuohien Destiny to eliminate him. He was however, lucky to have escaped. Several other residents have reportedly fled the community following the unrest caused by the crisis.
Our investigation revealed that Destiny Osabuohien became the prime target of attack by the thugs because he was accused by the CDA Chairman of having convened the meeting to mobilise the youths against him to step down and hand over power to Mr. Frank Ugiagbe as the next CDA Chairman in charge of development of oil and gas in the community.
As at the time of filing this report, the CDA Chairman, Mr. Augustine Osa is said to be frantically in search of the fleeing Destiny Osabuohien to kill him, using thugs.
He has also allegedly vowed to use the police to hunt and possibly prosecute and jail Destiny Osabuohien for his alleged role in the wanton destruction of property that took place in the community, including his residence.
Information available to The NIGERIAN OBSERVER indicates that the Edo State Police Command has since swung into action and launched a full-scale investigation into the matter with a view to arresting the masterminds of the crisis and restoring peace and order in the community.
