The Evwreni Elites Forum has pushed back against recent comments by the President General of the Evwreni Clan Improvement Union (ECIU), Chief Kenneth Ukpebitere, insisting that allegations against the Ovie of Evwreni Kingdom, Oghenekevwe Owin Kumani, and the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon. Samuel Mariere, should not be dismissed.
In a statement by its Secretary, Amos Ogagamuero, the group criticised Ukpebitere for downplaying concerns surrounding the ongoing terrorism and related charges against the two officials, which are currently before the Federal High Court.
Ogagamuero argued that the issues raised by the forum were rooted in documented events, including violence that reportedly affected the Evwreni community between 2020 and 2021.
He referenced a Delta State Government white paper arising from the crisis, questioning the basis on which the ECIU President General dismissed the allegations as “cheap blackmail.”
The forum maintained that the matters in dispute, including allegations of violence, destruction of property, and the reported use of a disbanded vigilante group, should not be trivialised, noting that they form part of broader concerns about peace and governance in the community.
Ogagamuero also faulted Ukpebitere’s comments on the ongoing court proceedings, describing them as prejudicial given that the cases remain before the courts.
He further urged the state government to implement recommendations contained in its white paper, particularly those relating to accountability and adherence to due process.
Reiterating its earlier position, the Evwreni Elites Forum called on the Delta State Government to direct both the monarch and the SUBEB Chairman to step aside from their official duties pending the determination of the cases in court.
“The integrity of public office requires that individuals facing serious criminal charges should allow due process to run its course without the influence of office,” the statement noted.
