Former CNS Ombu heads committee as Diri wades into Nembe-Bassambiri crisis
Bayelsa Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has on Tuesday appointed former Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Victor Ombu (Rtd), as chairman of the steering committee on the resolution of the protracted crisis in Bassambiri community in Nembe Local Government Area of the state.
The 11-member panel, comprising five other members each from both factions, has the mandate of proffering lasting solutions to restore peace in the community.
This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Daniel Alabrah, adding that Governor Diri, who convened the crisis resolution meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, gave the committee a duration of six months after which the community is expected to elect a substantive king.
Nembe-Bassambiri had been enmeshed in a protracted crisis for more than two decades, and efforts at resolution of the intra-communal conflicts had yielded little results.
At the meeting with the community’s representatives led by the Senator that represented Bayelsa East in the 9th Senate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, the governor said, “The panel’s only terms of reference are to ensure peace in Bassambiri that transcends party politics and oil and gas issues and brings about unity and oneness among people of the local government.”.
In his acceptance speech, Vice Admiral Ombu (Rtd) said he accepted the assignment in deference to the governor and acknowledged that it was a huge task ahead of him and other members of the committee.
The retired Naval Chief, however, assured that the assignment would be diligently handled as everyone in the community was tired of the crisis and wanted a peaceful resolution.
Speaking on behalf of both factions, Chiefs Samuel Teigbenyo-Ikoli and Iruo Donald, while promising to work together to restore peace in Bassambiri, accepted the intervention of the governor and the appointment of Ombu to lead the peace process.
Other members of the committee are Chief Kuroghafa Walter-Benwari, Prof. Danfebo Derri, Chiefs Don Arisimo, Ogbari Sokari, and Barimugha Debo. The panel also has Chiefs Daubozu Obiakpa, Abbott Ogbu, Kienghosuote Degi, Onyante Keremah, and Amakiri Duo as members.
