Dr Douglas Fabeke, the president of the Ogoni Development Initiative has accused Dr Thomas Bariere, the chairman of Khana Local Government Area in Rivers State of allegedly interference in the youth election of Luuwa community, his home town.
Fabeke who was the Labour Party candidate for Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the 2023 election, stated this in Port-Harcourt on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, in a post his verified social media handle while reacting to the outcome of the Luuwa youth election.
He warned the council boss to stir clear of the Luuwa youth election, or he would mobilise 5000 people to protest against him. “I will mobilise 5000 community leaders, youth, and women to protest against their evil plan in Luuwa so that the incident that led to the kidnapping and murder of the paramount ruler will not repeat again.”
He also took a swipe at the councillor representing the area in the Khana Legislative Assembly, Monday Biiranee, for allegedly acting on the script of his master, Bariere Thomas, whom he accused of using political power to stop the multimillion-naira investment he attracted to Ogoni through harassment, intimidation, and litigation.
He said, “In his delusion and servitude to his political master, Bariere Thomas, the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, as mentioned in the publication by Monday Biiranee, who set up a youth group in my community without the permission and clearance from the council of chief nor from the government, as alleged by Monday Biiranee in his publication, the rather unknown Monday Biiranee is only attempting to mislead the public and gain insight into the security agencies against me, which he will not succeed.”
Fabeke issued an ultimatum to the councilor to tender apology to him or face legal action for using derogatory language against his person.
“I will not tolerate anyone making unguided utterances suggestive of any anti-social behaviour with regard to my name, my person, or my reputation. I will surely take appropriate legal action. I therefore call on Monday Biiranee, to immediately retract his provocative, baseless public announcement and render a public apology to me or face a well-coordinated legal action.”
“I urge Monday Biiranee and his sponsors to desist forthwith from any further attempt to refer to me in this provocative fashion. “Finally, whoever is coming to Luuwa for illegal gathering without the knowledge of the leadership of the community will be resisted at the appointed time, no matter what position the person may occupy in government”, he said.
