From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Koluama Kingdom Council of Chiefs in Southern ljaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has denied media reports circulating in Yenagoa based radio stations, claiming that it invaded Ikebiri, her neighbouring community and carted away valuables, and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
Reacting to what it called “spurious allegations” made by the paramount ruler of Ikebiri Community, His Royal Highness Francis Odudu, the Clan Head of Koluama Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, King Solomon Ebifatei Edi (KOLU XI) appealed to the general public to disregard the allegations.
King Edi described the allegations as false and baseless, stressing that Koluama people are law abiding and would never engage in an act of taking the laws into their own hands.
According to him, it was some people allegedly sponsored by the Ikebiri community that invaded and destroyed residents of Koluama satellite communities including Otogbene, Obomukorogbene, Sonomadeigbahe-Gbene.
While insisting that the claims by Chief Odudu were unfounded and misleading, King Edi explained that to ensure the peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding of the people, he had on several occasions invited Ikebiri’s monarch and his council of Chiefs for a meeting which they have blatantly refused to attend.
The Koluama monarch maintained that his community would not succumb to blackmail, adding that claims being made by Ikebiri that their fore fathers gave the present landmass of Otogbene, Obomukorogbene, Sonomadeigbahe-Gbene and other satellite settlements to their father (Kolu), from Ikebiri is laughable as there are documented evidence that points to the contrary.
He therefore assured the public that Koluama kingdom is committed to ensuring that the matter is legally addressed in line with the provisions of the law and called on the Amananaowei of lkebiri and his cohorts to desist from their evil plans, stressing that plots of alliance formed with groups or individuals to formulate fake history to enable them succeed will be resisted.
The King further used the opportunity to call on the Bayelsa State Government, the Traditional Rulers Council and Security Agencies to “take note and call Ikebiri community to order and rein in the excesses of the Paramount Ruler of Ikebiri community in his bid to promote communal clash in the area.