6 suspended as crisis rocks Chevron-funded Foundation

KEEFES Rural Development Foundation (KRDF), a rural development foundation in Bayelsa with membership drawn from eight communities in Southern Ijaw and Brass Local Government Areas of the state has suspended six of its 32 members for alleged misrepresentation.

The communities are Koluama 1 and 2, Ezetu 1 and 2, Foropa, Fishtown, Ekeni and Sangana (known by the acronym KEFFES) as parties to the Global Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chevron and First E & P, two oil firms operating in the area..

KEEFES Rural Development Foundation (KRDF) announced the disciplinary measures against its erring members in a Communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting and made available to newsmen in Yenagoa on Sunday

KRDF said that the six members had misrepresented the judgement of a Bayelsa High Court which nullified the election conducted by the foundation and ordered a fresh poll and attempted to inaugurate a rival executive.

The communique was signed by the KRDF Secretary, Mr. Ngozi Amakiri, and read by an Ex-Officio member, Chief Christopher Tudu,

“The court, at no time or place, declared Tibiebi Amadein the eventual winner as this was never part of the issues or prayers in the process filled by the claimant

“The leadership of the house frowns at the following members Messr Zilpah Osaisai, Decca Perekunakuna and Ebi Think Williams who ignorantly worked with the claimant and attempted an unlawful change of leadership.

“That the said three members of KEFFES RDF who openly apologized to the house and asked for forgiveness be pardoned accordingly.

“That the house by way of a motion after deliberating on the evil and unpatriotic actions of Messrs Tibiebi, Kofa Murphy Daniel, Noel Ikonikomo, Christopher Longlife, Amina James and Ebitare Joseph has resolved that given the impunity of their actions which has caused serious disaffection and negative publicity on the body, be accordingly suspended from the membership of KRDF without benefit indefinitely.

“That the house unanimously passed a Vote of Confidence on the Mathew Sele-Epri-led leadership of the KRDF and assured them of their absolute unflinching support,” the communiqué read in part.”

It would be recalled that Mr Tibiebi Amadein had challenged the chairmanship position of Sele-Epri at the State High Court, Oporoma Division on the grounds that the chairmanship position should rotate to Koluama 2 and not Koluama 1 where Sele-Epri hails from.

The Bayelsa High court nullified the election and ordered that the KRDF conduct another election. However, the KRDF entered an appeal against the judgement at the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt.

The appellate court granted a Stay of Execution motion against the decision of the lower court, pending the determination of the appeal currently before it.

KRDF maintained that the action of Messrs Tibiebi Amadein, Kofa Daniel, Noel Longlife, Mrs Amina James and Ebitare Joseph consisted of gross misconduct and acted on impunity which has caused serious disaffection and negative publicity on the body.

The emergency meeting, was attended by 26 of the 32 members of KRDF and presided over by the Chairman, Sele-Epri