The Hon. Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Hon Chief Peter Okogbare Uviejitobor and Egbaisou of Burutu LGA, Dr Ebi Franklin Waboke, the Lomafe Laje kingdom, Ondo West LGA.
From the mediatory meeting called by the Delta State Governor through the Hon.Commissioner for Oil and Gas on Thursday,3rd of October 2024, at the Ministry’s Conference Centre on the perceived injustice and conduct likely to cause public disorder in Oboro Urban Community, arising from the petition of the Egberi family against the Exco of the Oboro Urban community.
Given from the mediatory prowess of the Hon Chief Peter Okogbare,total calm, peace, and new unity have returned in Oboro Urban Community today to the praise of the power of dispute resolution through mediation/arbitration.
Saturday, October 05, 2024
@Mediatory Meeting of the Oboro Urban Community EXCO, HRH Amananaowei, Egberi, Eton and Okodi Families with Hon Commissioner, Oil & Gas, Delta State Hon Chief Peter Okogbare Uviejitobor and Hon chief Pereotu Oloye, Member representing Burutu state constituency 11 in the Delta State House of Assembly, the Permanent Secretary,Ministry of Oil and Gas, Mr Frank Omoko,the Director Monitoring and Compliance, Dr Ikoro Efe,and management team in panel
The subject meeting was held at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Oil and Gas, Chike Edozien Secretariat, Maryam Babangida Road, Asaba. It was presided over by the Honourable Commissioner, Hon Chief Peter O. Uviejitobor.
- Attendance
- The Press
ii) Egberi Family - Dr Ebi Franklin Waboke
- Chief Ebimiebosei Boukazi
*Chief Wingate Ebiekekon
iii) Etoin Family - Chief Amassomaowei Benemo
iv) Okodi Family
*Madam Abeokuta Mercy Aliya
v) Oboro Urban Community
- MWO Ebimotu Odayeibo, Rtd) – Chairman
- Mr Preye Ambaķederemo – Spokesperson
- Mr Abaka Alombe – Financial Secretary
- ASP Joel Owotorufa,Rtd – Conference Chairman
- Elder BarrFred Owotorufa
- CP Warebi Owotorufa (rtd)
- Barr Torugbene Oloye
- Barr Edolor Meinane
- Chief Nanaotukpoemi Tarebi
- Mr Osagie Tarebi
- Pst Lawrence Otoku
- Pastor Ezonbode Akamule
- Mr Ogusuware Markson
- Mr Ebibuloukaemi Ibe
- HRH George Amake
- Chief Education Seikorogha
- Opening Remarks
The Honourable Commissioner informed all stakeholders that the His Excellency, the State Governor, had instructed him and his team to look into the petition from the Egberi family and resolve the matter amicably.
He was determined to ensure that at the end of the meeting, there would be sustainable peace and security in Oboro.
4.Presentations were respectively made by the three (3) families and Oboro Urban. All sides were allowed to cross-examine themselves. There were interjections and interventions, with fierce arguments. However, the audience was largely civil.
i)Dr Ebi Franklin Waboke made copious presentations on behalf of the Egberi family. He made serious allegations against the Executive Committee of the Community. He stated that since 1974, when Shell (SPDC) started operations in Oboro, the Egberi family has been unjustly deprived of their due royalty payments and incidental benefits by Oboro Community. That their complaints brought about unexpected offensive proclamations, detentions, extortions and banishment of persons and their families by the Community Executive. They are opposed to the Constitution of Oboro Urban Community. Finally, that whatever payments by SPDC should be made in the name and through Egberi family in the first instance, who will, in turn, remit what may be due to the Community, to Oboro Community.
ii) Chief Amassomowei Benemo made a 3- minutes presentation stating that the Etoin family is at peace with the community. And that their family had remitted the 70% due to the Community in line with the Community Constitution without problems.
iii) Madam Abeokuta Mercy Aliya presented on behalf of the Okodi family. She asserted that Oboro Community was not entitled to any payment. And that, Okodi family has since invested the money that was paid to their family by SPDC.
iv) MWO Ebimotu Odayeibo (rtd),the Community Chairman expressed gratitude to the Conveners of the meeting. He then courageously presented and defended Oboro Community. He vehemently denied the allegations and insisted that the Community Constitution was adopted and enacted at the Annual General Conference in December 2023 at Zado Hall and is binding on all persons, organs and institutions of the Community. All practices, customs, and conventions are trans-generational and carried out for maintenance of peace, security, and good governance of the Community. He gave a catalogue of the steps the community under his leadership had taken to resolve the issue without success.
After due mediation process, it was resolved.
5.Resolution.
The resolution reached was accepted and signed by all the parties except the Okodi family.
i) Resolution is to the effect that Oboro Urban Community shall immediately amend the Constitution of Oboro Urban Community 2023 (Revised) at the 2024 Annual Genetal Conference, when convened, to accommodate the resolution reached by the Delta State Government at the meeting.
ii) Also, Dr Ebi Franklin Waboke and select members of the Egberi family will go with the community chairman and select members of his Exco, to SPDC in working out the terms of settlement and sharing formula of 60/40% now agreed to.
iii) The community chairman will promptly refund 10% of the 70% paid earlier by the Etoin family in line with the terms of the Resolution.
iv) The parties will report back to the Hon Commissioner within two (2) weeks from the date of this resolution.
Signing of Resolutio.
The Egberi family represented by Dr Ebi Franklin Waboke, and Etoin family represented by Chief Amassomowei Benemo accepted and signed the Resolution. The community chairman, MWO Ebimotu Odayeibo, Rtd accepted and signed on behalf of Oboro Urban Community.
- Objection.
The Okodi Family representative, Abeokuta Mercy Aliya disagreed with the conclusion and resolution reached. Therefore, she refused to sign the document even against the persuasion and firm caution of the Hon Commissioner for Oil and Gas and members of the mediation panel.
5.Group Photograph of all participants
