By Egufe Yafugborhi

WARRI—EKPAN community in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, has petitioned President Mohammadu Buhari to prevail on the state government to refrain from alleged “undue interference” in the appointment of Community Liaison Officers, CLOs, to major companies doing business in the community.

In a Save Our Soul, by Silver Ofugara, Chairman, Ekpan Development Committee, Pa William Ujara, eldest man, Famous Etawhene (Men’s Leader) and Madam Ekpokpone Tanofor, the community said there was looming crisis, if the situation was not checked, as it will affect the entire Nigeria in view of the contribution of Ekpan to the nation’s economy.

“Ekpan used to be volatile. However, the prevailing peace for the past five years was shattered on July 3, when the Secretary to the State Government, Ovie Agas, ordered corporate bodies to suspend appointments of CLOs made by the community and replace them with CLOs whose tenure elapsed June 11 until further notice.”

The state government, the petition noted, was aware that CLOs in Ekpan run a three year tenure, describing the SSG’s action as a slight on the community and the Ovie of Uvwie, HRM, Abe 1, whose follow up interaction with an alleged understanding reached at the SSG’s office with police in attendance failed to change the government’s position.