By: Felix Ikpotor
President General of the Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF), Legborsi Sunday Yamaabana has refuted claims of his suspension by some members of the body, stressing that people on suspension cannot suspend him.
Yamaabana was reacting to a resolution by the Comrade Kingsley Dimkpa led Executive Council of the body which on 22nd August reportedly suspended him.
According to the resolution which was made available to Port Harcourt Spectator, the Dimkpa led EXCO said it re-affirmed the earlier suspension of Yamaabana on 21st September, 2018 and went further to pass a vote of confidence on Acting President, Comrade Kinsley Dimkpa.
Part of the resolution reads, “the National Executive Council condemns in totality the continues unwholesome activities of Comrade Legborsi Sunday Yamaabana in the name of OYF as he has been suspended and the suspension remains valid”
“the National EXCO frowns and LGA Coordinators frowns also at the act of receipt of gratification vis-à-vis the non-consensual advertorial published in the Nation Newspaper on 7th July, 2020 and clandestine visit to the Minister of Environment with the intent to victimize some reputable Ogoni sons and drag their reputation to the mud.
The resolution which was signed by Dimkpa, Lene Kinsgsley Lekue, Dennis Ngii, Nwam Faithful and others also suspended Comrade Mesua Ntomabari for signature forgery stressing that the suspension on Yamaabana and Ntomabari still subsist and thus nobody should deal with them.
When contacted on why the earlier suspension of Yamaabana is being raised after almost two years, Lene Kingsley Lekue who is the Publicity Secretary of the group said the earlier suspension still subsist and has not been lifted, stressing that the High Court judgmet of 16th July, 2020 instituted by Yamaabana against the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) wherein the court referenced the position of OYF National EXCO that at the point of going to court he was on suspension and lacks the power to do so gave credence to their action.
But, Yamaabana rubbished the said action and reiterated the decision of the National EXCO of the body which on August 16, 2020 suspended Dimkpa Kingsley and Lene Kingsley Lekue.
He said: “There was nothing like my suspension because OYF is a responsible organization guided by its constitution. Section 9, 10 and 11 states the laid down procedures for removing or suspending any member in the executive council but all these procedures where not followed in the purported suspension”.
He alleged that persons who allegedly suspended him are sponsored stooges and described them as enemies of the Ogoni people.
The Ogoni youth leader said “It’s laughable that my financial secretary who is not even the Vice President or Secretary will now come up to say he is Acting President,, its mere distraction”.
“Just two months ago when we formed the OYF COVID-19 Taskforce, Dimkpa was made the secretary till today and I appointed him, and a month ago when we visited the Honourable Commissioner for Youths, he was also there, the suspended Publicity Secretary has done a lot of publications for me. Since 2018 till now he didn’t remember I was on suspension but just because there is a new tranche of monies that has been given to them by enemies of Ogoni people he suddenly remembered I am on suspension,” he said.
Yamaabana further stated that the reason for the whole scenario is because OYF has refused to back down on its pursuit for proper implementation of the United Nations Environmental Report (UNEP) on oil impacted sights in Ogoniland.
While he said he has reported the matter to security agencies, he further warned those he accused of sponsoring the group against him to desist forth with as no amount of propaganda can deter him and his group from the advocacy for transparency and accountability.
