Youths disrupt Gbaramatu youth peace meeting

By: Frank David
From: Gbaramatu


Some irate youths in Gbaramatu kingdom recently disrupted the peace meeting called to settle the leadership tussle rocking the youth groups in the kingdom, leaving some injured while several others escaped death by the whiskers.
According to Mr. Tonfawei his life and those of his colleagues opposed to the recent conduct of election into the influential Gbaramatu Youth Council were in danger after the incident.
He said his ordeal is not unconnected with the on-going court case where the leadership of the kingdom was dragged to court over the recent election into the Gbaramatu Youth Council, GYC, conducted after a protracted power tussle in the kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The Sheriff Mulade-led faction are allegedly opposed to stiff conditions that only university graduates can aspire to lead the GYC and is currently challenging the outcome of the election in court.
Tonfawei and other members of his faction said they escaped death by the whiskers at the premises of a prominent leader of the kingdom, Chief Jonathan Ari, where Ari and other members of the traditional council were appealing to them to withdraw their suit.
He further disclosed that the assault on them was led by a youthful title holder in the kingdom and other supporters of the eventual winner of the controversial election, which was held in spite of its legal implication.
He said, “the attacker demanded that we signed an undertaking that we will withdraw the suit from the court and agree to the demands of the council. What we said was that we needed to consult with our members too in order to decide on the appropriate response to the decision of the chiefs, who had told us that the king had already decided on the matter and his decision was final.”
Comrade Mulade who was absent at the peace meeting however revealed that he was the target of the attack, stressing that the plan was to either kill or maim him to prevent him from going on with the agitation.
According to him, he had barely left the venue of the meeting when the fracas broke out, noting, “It is pertinent to note that any kingdom that refuses to be free and fair shall become a jungle where only jungle justice will operate". He therefore appealed to the Gbaramatu monarch, Ogieh Gbaraun and the traditional council of chiefs to wade in and save the kingdom from the influence of those who only believe in the use of brutal force to resolve issues.