Oyibode Clears Air On Emadadja Leadership Tussle, Says He Stands For Justice And fairness.

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The Executive Chairman of Udu Local Government Council Olorogun(Hon), Vincent Ogheneruemu Oyibode JP FCIA, has broken his silence over the ongoing leadership tussle in Emadadja Community, describing the recent protest and circulating narratives as “window dressing” and lacking the benefit of hearing both sides.

In a statement released Saturday morning, the Executive Chairman reaffirmed his commitment to truth, equity, and justice, emphasizing that he has no personal interest in who emerges as leader in any community but is only concerned with peace and due process.

“This is my home, my family. What will I gain by oppressing one for another? What will I gain by imposing a candidate on the Emadadja community?” Oyibode queried.

He accused the outgoing President-General of Emadadja, Mr. Festus Ashemughe, of being the architect of the crisis, revealing that despite a mutual resolution reached after considering petitions from two factions within the Asanovwe quarter, Mr. Festus acted in bad faith.

According to Oyibode, after extensive deliberations, it was agreed that the presidency of the community be zoned to a particular family that had been marginalized. Representatives from the four families under Asanovwe were to each nominate five delegates to select a qualified candidate, with a minimum of SSCE.

“I sent Chief Donald Brosu to observe the process. A name was agreed upon and reported back to me. Though Chief Brosu couldn’t confirm his academic qualification at the time, it was confirmed that the nominee hailed from the agreed family,” he stated.

Oyibode further explained that Mr. Festus later reneged on the agreement, attempting to impose his preferred candidates for the positions of President-General, Secretary, and Youth Leader, despite not being from the designated families. This, he said, violated Emadadja’s traditional zoning arrangement.

“Even Chief Kenneth Oboku, in whose house a meeting was held, was disappointed by Festus’s actions. He pleaded with me to install a caretaker committee to favor Festus’s camp, but I refused, stating it was against my integrity,” Oyibode revealed.

Shockingly, the Chairman recounted that by 7 a.m. the following morning, Festus allegedly deployed four trucks of Operation Delta SWEEP to install his preferred candidates by force, resulting in injuries and a breach of peace. The commanding naval officer, recognizing Oyibode, called to report the irregularity and later apologized.

Oyibode declared that any crisis that erupts in Emadadja henceforth should be blamed solely on Mr. Festus Ashemughe, whom he accused of undermining a peaceful process for personal gain.

He concluded with a challenge to Udu’s prominent sons and daughters: “Call the quarters involved and verify if what I said is true. If found correct, then sentiment should be set aside so that justice and peace can prevail.”

The Council boss reiterated that he would always support due process and community ownership in leadership selection, not imposition.

Press Unit Office of The Executive Chairman of Udu Local Government Council.