Tension is brewing in Iteregbi Community in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State over Mr Akpos Ukuedejor’s alleged continued stay in office as the community chairman.
The community has therefore cried out for help from security agencies and strongly appealed to the Delta State Government to urgently intervene in the heightening security tension in the community following recent actions by Mr Akpos Ukuedejor, which, according to them, are capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in the community.
Some of the community leaders, Mr John Agusa and Chief Steven Okperin told NewsNet Nigeria that the renewed appeal to the State Government became necessary to halt the reign of Mr Akpos Ukuedejor who has continued to elongate his stay in office which elapsed in July 2022.
Mr Agusa and Chief Okperin made available several protest letters to the Delta State Government through the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, the State Police Command and authorities of Uvwie Local Government Council.
According to them, efforts by the respective authorities to stop Mr Akpos Ukuedejor from parading himself as chairman of Iteregbi Community have not yielded any positive results.
They particularly recalled the intervention by the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom which Mr Akpos Ukuedejor has flagrantly ignored.
Confirming the development, the Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor in a phone chat with Our Correspondent, said Mr Akpos Ukuedejor and his group evade meetings called by his office until he requested that Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom to intervene.
Chief Uzor decried the subsisting of the matter promising to once again reach out to the Uvwie Monarch on the matter.
For his part, the Chairman of Uvwie Local Government Council, Chief Anthony Ofoni confirmed he has been briefed on the matter and has invited the community for a meeting in his office, the outcome he said will be made known.
Iteregbi Community on May 1, 2023, wrote a protest letter dated May 1, 2023, against Mr Akpos Ukuedejor to the immediate past chairman of Uvwie Local Government Council, Hon Ramson Tega Onoyake, which was endorsed by the heads of the six family gates that make Iteregbi community namely: Pa Shokare Unuagba, Okpako R’Evwo (Okaorho), Head of Oghenebrume Family Gate; Elder Pender Onakpofure, Head of Erijeri Edegbata Gate; Elder Pender Ukuedejor, Head of Omadaihwe Family Gate; Elder Johnson Okotie, Head of Okotie/Ikokodudu Family Gate; Chief Goft Apene, Head of Eriariake Family Gate; Chief (Barr) Oasawota, Head of Nwagbafor Family Gate and Mr Patrick Okodu, Head of Ejeromedaye Family Gate.
The community in the letter copied the Unuerworo R’Uvwie/Alegbo, High Chief Hope Akasa and the President General (PG) of Uvwie Kingdom, Chief Hope Erute alleging “That Mr. Akpos Ukuedejor has since juxtaposed himself as the Chairman of the Working Committee of our Community after series of threats to the life of Chief Robert W. Mega, who had since abandoned his office as a result of the incessant threats from the said Mr. Akpos Ukuedejor.
“That any attempt to remind the said Mr. Akpos Ukuedejor to give way for a new Working Committee to be constituted for our Community, he and his cohorts always visit same with threats to the lives of our Council of Elders and the entire Community undermining that his tenure has since expired on July 2022.
“Therefore, we the undersigned persons are calling on you as the Chief Security Officer of Uvwie Kingdom, to call on the said Mr. Akpos Ukuedejor and his cohorts to shield their swords and allow a new Executive Working Committee to be reconstituted in our Community and ensure that peace reigns in our Community.”