By Godwin Oghre

Sapele – Embattled chairman of Sapele/Okpe Community, Mr. Michael Egbejule, has denied the allegation credited to Senator David Dafinone that he (Egbejule) and his committee members misappropriated and embezzled N5.25 million, which caused the recent leadership tussle in the community.

Egbejule said that the leadership crisis was caused by those who felt they can unlawfully and undemocratically usurp the community administrative power from  him and his executives in order to monopolise the socio-economic endowment of the community.

According to him, these same individuals want to force their autocratic nature on the people of the community, a position the community rejected and condemned in totality. He said this was why they, last week, carried out a peaceful demonstration in the community to register their displeasure and to denounce any intending autocratic and high-handed rule of a few individuals.

The community leader wondered why such allegation, if it was any thing to go by, was not reported by his detractors to law enforcement agency for investigation. He said he had no personal quarrel with Chief Dafinone or any member of his respected family. He, however, wondered why such spurious and fictitious allegation could be credited to a man respected across the country and beyond.

Saying the allegation was untrue, Egbejule added that it was meant to drag his reputation and that of his committee members to the mud in a bid to unseat him, a plan he noted the community strongly opposed.

Some of the community members who spoke to Vanguard, corroborated Egejule’s position. Mr. Bright Ogodo said the rumour of embezzling community fund was false. He said the chairman had always been transparent, which explained the overwhelming support he enjoys from the people.