The Concerned Youths of Kula Community in the Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State have accused the Minister for Sports, Dr. Tammy Wenike Danagogo of formeting crisis in the area. This was contained in a petition, the youths sent to the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and made available to newsmen. The petition which was signed by the spokesperson of the youths, Comrade Glad Ibigoni also blasted the Minister for State, Education, Chief Barr. Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike for fueling confusion and division in the area.
The youths further indicted one Mr. Hope Dan Opusingi and Mr. Kenneth Dan Opusingi on the mayhem in the community, alleging that their activities have caused so much anxieties and untold hardship in the area.
The Concerned Youths of Kula advised the Federal Minister for Sports, Dr. Danagogo to stop interfering in issues concerning Kula community, alleging that he is not an indigene of the community.
The youths recalled that in 2008, when the Federal Minister for Sports was a Commissioner in charge of the Rivers State Ministry of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, the problems he allegedly caused in the area are yet to be resolved, saying that “the scars of the crisis are there for people to see”.
Comrade Ibigoni lampooned Dr. Danagogo for backing the clandestine activities of the Hope Dan Opusingi and that of his younger brother, Mr. Kenneth Dan Opusingi and their boys in the creeks.
According to them, the boys who are allegedly loyal to Hope and Kenneth Opusingi are terrorizing the water ways in the Kula Community.
Comrade Ibigoni stated in the said petition that precisely on Sunday 20th July, 2014, the Sports Minister left his duty post in Abuja, came down to Degema and before the JTF defending Hope, Kenneth and the activities of their boys in the creeks.
He alleged that because of the utterances, the Sports Minister voiced out, there was a clash between him (Danagogo) and the Chairman of the Akuku-Toru Local Government Area Caretaker Committee (CTC), Hon. Stanley Benibo, “if not God the clash could have lead to a serious crisis.”
“Dr. Tammy Wenike Danagogo should leave Kula alone. Afterall; he is not from the community. May be his aim and intention is to cause crisis in Kula. Danagogo, please we are begging you, leave us alone and concentrate doing your sports and games work in Abuja”, Comrade Ibigoni pleaded.
The spokesperson who pleaded with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to call his two Ministers (Danagogo and Wike) to order so to avoid causing more problems in the community.
“Mr. President let us tell you the true, Kula is boiling. Anybody who states his mind on any issue bordering the community, people must tag that person as APC or PDP member. Kula is not a political party, but an ancient community that has been in existence for over 600 years.
The ugly activities of the political parties in the state are being felt negatively in Kula community than in any other town or village,” Comrade Ibigoni alleged.
The youths further recalled that the 2007 crisis in the community that led to the killing of some persons was caused by Kenneth Opusingi.
“Now Kenneth Opusingi and his brother, Hope have started again. They should be called to order, if not, there will be crisis in the community”, Comrade Ibigoni warned.
They accused Hope Dan Opusingi of inordinate ambition and advised him to stop parading himself as the Amanyanabo of Opukula, adding that the said Opukula is no longer in existence.
According to them Opu-kula is owed by the entire people of Kula, stating that the last King of Opukula was Oko, before the Kula Community moved to its present settlement.
They said Hope Dan Opusingi has no right to claim the Opukula community, alleging that of recent the Opukula came to limelight when one late Anisom Sobere, alias Opukula established his militancy camp in the area. Comrade Ibigoni said that Alhaji Chief Mujahid Asari-Dokubo was also a witness to that camp. According to him shortly after that, the Opukula remains a fallow ground, pointing out that if Opukula is to be upgraded to community status, it is the duty of the entire community to write to the relevant authorities to do the upgrading and not Hope Opusingi and his brother Kenneth.
The youths wondered why Hope Opusingi is parading himself as the Amanyanabo of Opukula, while the case in suit No. PHC/2679/2012 is still pending in court. This is the case he (Opusingi) instituted against Shell.
They alleged how he(Hope Dan Opusingi) arrested and tortured one Chief Engr. Okoye Davies Fiala and others for making the public know that Opusingi family is made of several lineages, and not only that of late Chief Daminabo Dan Opusingi.
They concluded by saying that the Opusingi stool is not for only Daminabo Dan Opusingi but other families such as Fiala and Agiri amongst others.
All efforts to contact Hope and Kenneth Opusingi were abortive ###
