WARRI—ANXIETY has mounted at the oil and gas-rich Ugborodo community, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, over the headship of the community’s Council of Elders.

A stakeholder and son of the Eghare-Aja (administrative/traditional head) of Ugborodo, Mr. Eyenuberu Ojogor, told Saturday Vanguard that the problem arose when the Olaja-Olori of the community, Mr. Benson Omadeli, started showing-off himself as the head and chairman of the Ugborodo community Council of Elders.

He asserted: “There is disunity, conspiracy and dirty politics among the Council of Elders, which will be of no help to any Trust/Management Committee, women group, youths and Ugborodo community at large. Until they come together as one without any egoistic tendency, the community will remain divided against better things to come.”

According to him: “The authority of the Olaja-Olori of Ugborodo is primarily binding on only those in the lineage of the Ororo family, history has it that the seven families of Ugborodo came together in agreement that there shall be a rotational shift of power and the highest authority in Ugborodo community, who will be the Eghare-Aja within the seven families. He shall also be the administrative/traditional head and he shall be the chairman, Ugborodo community Council of Elders.

“ It was also said that there will be heads and representatives from the seven families each, example Orori, Abome, Eloko, Komini etcetera; whom will join forces with the Eghare-Aja to brainstorm in every council of elders meeting and activities in moving Ugborodo community forward.

“Olaja-Orori as it stands today represents the Head of the Orori family/lineage, therefore, under the Eghara-Aja of Ugborodo. I do not understand the reasons why today he wants to give orders or call for general meetings without the knowledge of the Eghare-Aja. It is quite unfortunate.”