From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State Government has set up a five-man committee to look into the protracted chieftaincy dispute in Polaku Community in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

The fact-finding Committee headed by the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Dambo (SAN), is to among other things; verify if the Polaku Chieftaincy Stool has been gazetted by the state government as claimed by the sitting paramount ruler of the community.

Constituting the committee in Government House, Yenagoa, on Thursday, the Deputy Governor emphasized the need for communities to respect and obey the state Chieftaincy Law as its provisions supersede that of their constitutions.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo clarified that under the provisions of the Chieftaincy Law; only the Governor of the state has the prerogative to remove a duly elected traditional ruler for proven cases of gross misconduct after a thorough investigation.

He called on the feuding parties and the entire people of Polaku to maintain the peace and status-quo in the community, pending the outcome and report of the investigation by the five-man committee.

While urging communities to respect duly constituted authority, he directed the Chief Tarila Club-faction to write an unreserved apology to the Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Hon. Bulodisiye Ndiwari, for walking out on him at a recent reconciliatory meeting and making a copy of the letter available to the Deputy Governor’s office.

His words: “You people have been having a protracted leadership problem in your community and then you people have gone to court twice.

“We hear that some individuals want to take laws into their hands, but the time people take laws into their hands has passed, and so, every person, family and community must subject themselves to law and order.

“The Nigerian Constitution in Section 3 says every decision of any court shall be binding on every person and authority pending when that judgement is upturned. So when there are judgements of a court, your community must obey and respect them.

‘The laws of Bayelsa State override the laws of Polaku community, and every other community in the state. Under the Bayelsa Chieftaincy Law, only the Governor has the power to remove a traditional ruler for gross misconduct after proper and thorough investigation.”

In his remarks, the Mayor of Yenagoa City, Hon. Bulodisiye Ndiwari, expressed concern over the plethora chieftaincy-related crises in the area, particularly in Gbarain Kingdom and urged the people to resolve their differences in the interest of peace and progress.

Others who made presentations at the meeting were the embattled Amananaowei of Polaku, Chief Tarila Barnabas, a factional leader, Chief Tarila Club and a community stakeholder, Inei Etuele.

Members of the committee, which has three week to submit its report, include the Commissioner for Community Development, Watson Belemote, his Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs counterpart, Chief Thompson Amule, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Akpoebi Agberebi (Rtd), as well as the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Perekeme Bertola.