The youths of Ibusa in the Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, have rejected the alleged plan of His Royal Majesty, Obi Professor Chelunor Nwoboshi, the Obuzor of Ibusa and the Oshimili North Local Government Chairman, Hon. Innocent Eseweizie to impose an Interim Youths Committee to conduct the Ibusa Youths Council Election in Ibusa against the wish of the people

Speaking to DAILY INDEPENDENT, Mr. Olema Vincent, secretary to Ibusa youth council said that the Constitution of The Ibusa Youths Council, Section 13, empowers only the outgoing Youths President and its committee to constitute the electoral committee that can carry out their duties independently and oversee the electoral process of the incoming executives of the Youths body.

According to him, “It is very sad for the entire Ibusa to witness how the palace twisted justice and manipulated the Ibusa Youths Council Constitutional Electoral process by illegally hand picking an illegal Interim Youths Committee headed by Obuzor`s personal Aide, while the case of suspension of Ibusa youths council election is still pending in the court of competent jurisdiction.

The recent inauguration of the interim government/electoral committee is a brazen abuse of power by His Royal Majesty, Obi Prof. Chelunor Nwoboshi, the Obuzor of Ibuzor, and political actors who are expected to be custodians of peace and order in the Community, doing the contrary. It is shameful to witness the current Ibusa Youths Council saga at the moment”.

The youth Council described the recent action as a deliberate attempt by the Obuzor and the Local Government Chairman to bypass the constitution of the Ibuzor youths council and impose leadership on an Unpopular candidate through a backdoor arrangement.

“Leadership is not by coercive tendencies with open impunity that it must go my way, otherwise, heaven will fall. This is wrong in all ramifications of human judgment, and we urge those perpetuating this evil to rethink because we can not continue to hit up Ibusa politics all the time, because we have resolved to fraudulently hijack the process by all indications of human calculations in pursuit of who gets what in the Ibusa Youth Council Election.

“The sudden hijack of the youths’ election by the palace is worrisome because the Ibusa Youths Council Constitution stated clearly that the office of the Obuzor should be respected as an advisory and non-executive member. The office of the Obuzor has no fundamental rights and powers to appoint or inaugurate any interim/electoral committee.

“It is rather unfortunate that everything about Ibusa development, as regards who gets what in pursuit of free, fair, and credible elections for all, is shrouded in secrecy, with the Intent to manipulate the process of Ibuzo youth council election by all means.

He further mentioned that the setting up of an interim Youth body by Obuzor of Ibusa is illegal and cannot stand the test of time, because according to the Ibusa Youth Council constitution, Obuzor just has an advisory role to play as the traditional ruler.

“The Delta State Ministry of Youth’s electoral guidelines for youth election did not grant either the Obuzor or the local government Chairman such power to impose any committee on the youth election.

He further explained that the process leading to the pronouncement of the Youth Electoral Committee should be transparent and devoid of any form of imposition or manipulation”.

He faulted moves by Obuzor and some individuals to bypass the laid-down procedures for selecting the New Ibusa Youths Council Executives and impose them on the community.

He added that an attempt to jettison the age-long practice and handpick an individual would not be in the interest of peace, progress, or the development of the community.

He advised the officials of the government at both the state and local government levels to allow the community to follow the normal process of electing their youth leaders.

Hence, the entire Ibusa community is calling on His Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori who is the Chief Security Officer of the state, and other relevant authorities to caution the Obuzor of Ibusa over abuse of democratic process in the affairs of Ibusa Youth Council and checkmate the abuse of power, as their overzealousness for power can cause chaos and breakdown of law and order in Ibusa. (Independent)