Odidi Oil Spill: Governor’s Visit Does Not Recognise Parallel Leadership, Okrikpa Remains Chairman Stakeholders

By Tessy Ogbemi

WARRI— Concerned stakeholders and indigenes of Odidi Federated Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State have declared that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s recent visit to the oil-polluted Odidi community should not be misconstrued as recognition or validation of what they described as a “parallel leadership” in the community.

The stakeholders insisted that the Prince Preye Okrikpa-led executive remains the leadership they recognise as representing the interests of Odidi people, particularly in sensitive matters involving government agencies, oil companies and negotiations arising from the prolonged crude oil pollution ravaging the community.

They made the position known while reacting to the Governor’s on-the-spot inspection of the reported seven-month crude oil spill in Odidi, stressing that the Governor’s intervention was welcome but should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any faction in the community’s disputed leadership.

The stakeholders said they appreciated Oborevwori for personally visiting the affected area and addressing the devastating environmental consequences of the oil spill, which they said had continued to threaten the livelihoods, waterways, fishing grounds and farmlands of residents.

According to them, the Governor’s intervention demonstrated concern for the plight of the people and should be followed by urgent measures to stop the pollution, contain the crude, clean up the affected environment and provide relief and medical assistance to affected residents.

However, they warned against what they described as attempts to use the Governor’s visit and photographs taken during the inspection to create the impression that a rival leadership structure had received official recognition.

“The Governor’s visit does not confer recognition or validation on any parallel leadership. Appearing in a photograph or video with the Governor does not, by itself, confer recognition or legal validation on a group whose leadership status is being contested,” the stakeholders said.

They maintained that the oil-spill crisis should not become an avenue for deepening the community’s leadership dispute or allowing competing groups to negotiate separately with oil companies and government authorities in the name of Odidi.

The stakeholders argued that, given the seriousness of the environmental crisis, there must be clarity over who speaks for the community in engagements involving the operator connected to the affected oil assets, regulators and government authorities.

They therefore urged all relevant authorities to distinguish between the Governor’s legitimate humanitarian, environmental intervention and the separate question of community leadership which is before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The stakeholders further called for an impartial resolution of the leadership dispute through the appropriate legal and institutional channels, rather than allowing political appearances or public photographs to determine who represents the community.

They said the reported seven-month pollution had already imposed severe hardship on residents, particularly fishermen and farmers whose sources of livelihood depend on the rivers, creeks, fishing grounds and surrounding environment.

The group urged the state government, relevant regulatory authorities and the oil industry to intensify efforts to stop the continued flow of crude, identify and address the source of the pollution, commence remediation and provide immediate relief to affected residents.

They also called for transparency in all engagements between the community and oil companies, insisting that no individual or faction should be allowed to exploit the environmental emergency to bypass the recognised community structure.

The stakeholders reiterated their appreciation to Governor Oborevwori for drawing attention to the environmental emergency in Odidi, but stressed that the Governor’s intervention should remain focused on saving lives, protecting the environment and ending the oil pollution.

They maintained that the community’s leadership question should not be confused with the urgent environmental emergency confronting Odidi.

“We particularly draw attention to the proceedings of 6th same day the Governor visited October 2026,  the Honourable Court considered the application filed by the Defendant/Defendant's Counsel seeking, inter alia, an order striking out the substantive suit. The said application to strike out the suit was not granted by the Honourable Court.

Also Of particular concern  is the role played by the Chairman of Warri South West Local Government Area Sylvester Oromoni in relation to the visit. We understand that the Chairman informed the purported parallel executive of the visit and facilitated their positioning before the visiting delegation as representatives of odidi community

The conduct of a public office holder in facilitating one of the competing factions to present itself as the recognised representative of the Community, while the leadership question remains pending before the Court, could reasonably be perceived as pre-empting or prejudicing the subject matter of the pending proceedings.

They considered it in the best interest of the Community to allow the visiting authorities and relevant stakeholders to focus on the environmental emergency and the urgent need to address the continuing oil spill affecting Odidi and neighbouring communities.

The people of Odidi need action, not a leadership controversy being used to overshadow the oil-spill disaster. The immediate priority is to stop the pollution, protect the people and restore the environment, while the leadership question is resolved through the appropriate legal process,” they said.

They therefore urged all parties to avoid actions capable of further dividing the community at a time when residents require urgent government intervention and coordinated action to address the environmental devastation.

The statement signed by Clement Numah, Mike Komkemele, Chief William Mamamu, Chief Lawrence Okrikpa, Chief Michael Aribogha, Chief Isaiah Ibilou, Elder Pori Newyear, Elder Godwin Ganiga, Elder Mike Kulu, Engr. Moses Ibilou, Elder Johnson Febunafa, Joseph Hitler Oyateide and Nancy Ado.