I’m An Indigene, Akpovoka Clarifies, Petitions Aduvie To Ughelli Area Command Over Afiesere Community Funds

By Ukane Godwin

Hon. (Arch), Julius Efeni Akpovoka has asserted that he is an Indigene of Afiesere Community in Ughelli North LGA of Delta State, just as he petitioned Hon. Richard Aduvie to Ughelli Area Commander for not willing to give account of over Three Billion Naira that accrued to Afiesere community for the four years in office as the PG of the community.

Akpovoka made this known while addressing newsmen at his residence in his home town, Afiesere community, Ughelli North LGA over a purported announcement made in the electronic media through the PG, Richard Aduvie, saying that Hon. Julius Akpovoka is not from Afiesere community.

Reacting to the announcement, Hon. Akpovoka said: “l am Hon. Julius Akpovoka from ETE Quarter of Afiesere community,” noting that ETE Quarter is made up of streets and family, the Eke, Orode, Anaka and Urhie street including Akpovoka, Emere and Edjere family; all these make up the ETE Quarter which is the middle of the community and l am from Akpovoka Edjere family of ETE Quarter.”

Continuing, he said: “We also have Ohwaro quarter which is made up of Ekregor, Omovwodo, Ophori and Obasenu. These are what make up the Owharo quarter.

“In the Uhurie quarter we have Ohiria, Obayagbon, Uvwiejeyan and Edjewe family, all these are made up of the Uhurie quarter.”

Hon. Akpovoka said, Afiesere was not owned by a particular person, adding that when Ughelli was founded, they all landed in Otovwodo and it was from there they migrated to the land of Afiesere, noting that their forefathers deforested the place.

He said: “My forefather was among those that deforested Afiesere, my father deforested over four plots of land as time went by, he later handed over one of the plots of land he deforested to the community to be used as market which is still in existence till today. He handed over the plot of land to the community when he was the spokesman (The Otota), of the community.

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“How can someone say I am not from Afiesere community because he was called upon to give his account of stewardship for over 3 Billion Naira that accrued to the community as PG for the four years, as he discovered that l was one of the people that called him to render his account, he quickly went to electronic media to announce that l am not from Afiesere community He has been petitioned to Ughelli area commander for not willing to render his account of stewardship through a document made available to the Urhobo Voice respectively.”

Hon. Akpovoka who was a one time Vice Chairman of Ughelli North LGA, and a two-time candidate for house of representative for Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency under the platform of the Labour Party LP), in 2015 and 2019, said, on the issue of Hon. Richard Aduvie not rendering his account of stewardship, three persons in Afiesere community, Mr. Frank Odibo, Mr. Eguruase Okpole and Mr. Oraka Ighosotu have equally draged Hon. Aduvie to court for not willing to give his account of stewardship through a document also made available to newsmen.

Hon. Akpovoka also remarked that, according to section 6 part 5 of Afiesere constitution, as the PG, you have to call for the community conference in each and every year to give account of what you have done, adding that for three years and eleven months of Hon. Aduvie as PG, he has not called for conference and he wants to conduct election which is against the constitution.

He said, “l have written to him that before any election can hold according to the constitution, he should call for community conference to give his account of stewardship over what he has done with the community money, and as soon as he held this, he proceeded to a radio station to announce that l am not from Afiesere community.

“Based on the purported announcement, l have given him (Hon. Richard Aduvie), 7 days ultimatum to retract that statement and apologize or face the law, ” Hon. Akpovoka asserted.

The Afiesere born politician also hinted that the constitution of Afiesere stated that the PG of the community should also open community account were what is being accrued to the community should be paid to and approval to use such money should be given to the PG by the rulling organs of the community, adding that up till now the PG, Hon. Richard Aduvie has never opened the community account which is also against the constitution of Afiesere community and others.

“So, these are what l noticed that he was doing that were against the constitution which could led to crises in the community and we are peace loving people especially

“I also use this medium to appeal to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to call Hon. Richard Aduvie to order,” he said, alleging that Aduvie is using his position as Executive Assistant to the Governor on Community Matters to intimidate the innocent citizens of the community,” Hon. Akpovoka added.

Attempts to speak with Aduvie proved abortive at the time of this report.