Crisis Brews in Amadi-Ama Community Over CDC

Crisis is currently brewing in Amadi-Ama community in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State following the existence of two parallel Community Development Committees.

Investigations reveal that Engr. Nelson Amadi and one Obele Olunwa are leading two parallel CDCs in the community.

However, sources from the community claimed that the CDC being led by Engr. Amadi is the authentic one having been recognised by the court and the community.

The community also said that various court judgements including letters from the Rivers State Ministry of Justice have warned the Obele Olunwa group which was formerly headed by Chief Okwein Parker from operating an illegal CDC in the area.

They cited the court’s judgements of Hon Justice P C Igwe, Rtd Justice Adolphus Enebeli, late Justice S O Benson and Hon Suzette Wike which all recognised the Nelson Amadi CDC as the authentic one.

Speaking in an interview with The Tide, Acting Head Chief of Amadi-Ama community, Chief Sunday Jeremiah Amadi, said that the problem started when Amadi Ama, Somiari Ama, Fimie Ama, Ukukalama and Ozuboko Ama became one kingdom with the name Kala Ogoloma.

According to him “the problem started when Amadi Ama, Somiari Ama, Fimie Ama, Ukukalama and Ozuboko Ama became a kingdom with our king, Godknows Idaminabo Olunwa, and some persons who wanted to be king but were not successful decided to scatter it.”

He said Amadi Ama community from inception has been led by chiefs and elders, but regretted that some persons, out of their selfish interest, decided not to recognise it.

“In Amadi Ama, we have chiefs and Elders Council that have been ruling the community from the beginning. This group of persons one day stood up and said the chiefs and elders council has been dissolved, something that is forbidden in this land.

“And then, CDC that has been moving round, working to create jobs here, bringing development with the companies around here, bringing development to the community, was not allowed to do its job; instead they went and formed a parallel CDC”

He said the community went to court and Justice PC Igwe ruled against them and also issued an injunction against them.

The Amadi Ama Head Chief also said the community also got judgements from Rtd Justice Adolphus Enebeli, late S O Benson and Hon Suzette Wike’s courts which all declared the Engr Nelson Amadi CDC as the authentic one.

He alleged that the Obele Olunwa-led CDC has been defrauding the community of various sums of monies running to hundreds of millions of naira.

Chief Sunday Jeremiah Amadi said time has come for the government to enforce its own laws by stopping the CDC headed by Obele Olunwa from operating in the community.

The Amadi Ama head chief confirmed that the CDC, being led by Engr. Amadi, is the one recognised by the law and the community.

On his part, Engr. Amadi while confirming the legitimacy of his CDC, said both the community and the law recognised his leadership and stressed the need for the government to step in and resolve the crisis before its gets out of control.

On the other side, Barrister Solomon Iringe Koko claimed that there was no court judgement or order restraining them, adding that the IPC Igwe judgement allegedly being paraded by his opponents were obtained fraudulently.

According to him, the community was not even a party to the judgement

“When you talk about judgement of court, IPC Igwe judgement, this community was not a party.

“The judgement was entered against some community chiefs and elders. The judgement has to do with our constitution which of course has nothing to do with chieftaincy or even CDC,” he said.

Solomon who did not produce any documents during the interview said Amadi-Ama is not subservient to any kingdom.

Also speaking, Chief Okwein Parker who claimed to be a former CDC chairman also denied being restrained by the court.

Meanwhile, a cross session of indigenes of Amadi-Ama who spoke on the issue with newsmen appealed to the State government to ensure the existence of only one CDC, saying it is dangerous for Amadi Ama community to have two CDCs at the same time.

According to them, since both the law courts and the community recognised the Engr. Nelson Amadi’s led CDC, it should be the one that should operate in the community.

By: John Bibor