From Aherhoke Okioma,Yenagoa
The leadership of Bilabiri 1 and 2 communities in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has urged the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), to withhold its dealing with chairman of the Mein Cluster Development Board over alleged misappropriation of funds by the leadership.
According to the community leaders in a petition to SPDC and the Bayelsa State government, regretted that the autocratic leadership style of the chairman of the cluster board, Mr David Otiti was becoming unbearable, adding that the chairman has abused his office by suspending the rules and terms of the General Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU, agreements and protocols.
The petition which was signed the Community Trust Secretary of Bilabiri 2, Mr. Ogbare Fun, Community Trust Secretary of Bilabiri 1 Community, Mr Akemey Benson, and the Community Trust Chairman of Bilabiri 2 Community, Mr. Endurance Deboh, stated that if the policy objective of the GMoU is to be achieved, the chairman of the Mein Cluster board has to be called to order.
Other allegations against the cluster board leadership include, unilateral awards of contract to himself and his cronies without due consultation with CDB since his assumption of office, failure to constitute committees and sub-committees of the CDB, failure to call for board meeting since assuming office, lack of respect for traditional rulers, CDC Chairman, and other stakeholders, and keep the communities in the dark with regards to the implementation of the GMoU.
They said: “We hereby use this medium on behalf of our humble selves and the good people of Bilabiri 1 and 2 Communities that we represent in the cluster development board to intimate the management of SPDC of our grievances occasioned by the activities of the Mein Cluster Board Chairman, Mr. David Otiti, there have been a myraid of issues since the current CDB was inaugurated on the 9th October, 2018, owing to the leadership style of the chairman, we can no longer tolerate his dictatorial leadership, this protest is coming to you by the reason that the SPDC management appreciate the core value of the GMoU system, thereby adopting same in your operational areas for maximum enhancement of community/company relations.”
