The Rivers State Chairman of the National Butchers Union, Alhaji Ibrahim Maisundu Beli has called on the public to disregard the purported election said to have been conducted by Aihaji Salisu Umar Uba recently.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday, Alhaji Beli alleged that the erstwhile Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Area, Chikodi Dike had set up an interim committee which was headed by Alhaji Salisu Umar Uba, to pilot the affafrs of the butchers at Trans Amadi.
Beli disclosed that while Uba’s tenure subsisted, he was given a mandate to restore peace and harmony among the butchers due to a protracted crisis which allegedly rocked the union, adding that this was grossly abdicated by the interim chairman.
He re-emphasized that the Interim Chairman was merely asked to ‘hold brief’ pending the return of peace to the union, stressing that he was also ‘warned’ not to ‘conduct election because he lacked the powers to do so’.
“He has conducted himself in a disorderly manner hereby causing public disorderliness. He has created another crisis by conducting an election without the awareness and consulting all the stakeholders in the National Butchers Union. The leadership crisis in the union has forced its members to abandon their meat tables and shades in Trans-Amadi slaughter”, Beli declared.
Beli the chairman stated that his union was the apex body of national meat butchers in Rivers State, warmed against impersonation of the position of butchers chairman, adding “We have called on security agencies to arrest anybody that parades himself as chairman of Trans Amadi Slaughter”
He said his union boasts of over two thousand membership. Beli recalled that the former chairman of Obio Akpor LGA, Prince Timothy Nsirim had during his short span, postponed the election for security reasons, wondering why the current CTC chairman, Lawrence Chkwu should allow the purported election, I was given a mandate to pilot the affairs of the association until a new election date was fixed and election conducted when the security situation improved.
He declared that it was Nsirim who directed that he continues to pilot the affairs of the body pending restoration of peace, after which elections should be conducted.
The chairman alleged the existence of three excos with himself heading a faction, while the interim chairman, Alhaji Umar heads another as well as a faction that is headed by one Promise whom he described as an indigenous meat butcher who started the business and we came to meet him in Trans Amadi.
According to him, he said that Rivers State Commissioner of Police warned them not to conduct any election. ###
