Former Daily Times Editor Heads Abonnema Peace Committee

A former Daily Times Editor and Group Managing Director of Daily Times Publications more than four decades ago, Chief (Dr) Patrick Dele Cole has been appointed as chairman of Abonnema Peace Committee.

Other members of the Chief Dele Cole Peace Committee charged with the responsibility of enthroning lasting peace in the once turbulent community include Chief Justice B. A. George will, Messrs Tom Fabian, Odoiliyi Lolomari, Talbot
Obaye Ekine as well as Sokiepirim Graham Douglas and Abiye Membere.

A communiqué issued shortly after a meeting of Abonnema Council Chiefs on Wednesday, signed by eight chiefs, including the Regent of the ancient town, High Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs and made available to the Daily Times also constituted a five member Audit Panel under the chairmanship of Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas, a former Aviation
Minister during the first tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The Audit Committee is charged with the responsibility of looking into the alleged missing funds of the community.

According to the communiqué, the chiefs also dissolved the ten man Trust Committee dealing with oil companies in the area and replaced it with a three man Trust committee headed by Chief (Dr) M. T. D. Membere.

It would be recalled that the once peaceful Abonnema Town, headquarters of Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers state has known no peace since last year shortly after the upgrading of its traditional stool to first class status by the present government of Chief (Barr) Ezenwo Nyesom Wike leading to the alleged assassination attempt last year on the Regent, High Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs.

All efforts to contact the present occupant of the stool and the Amayanabo of Abonnema town, Chief Desreal Bobmanuel for his comments and confirmation of the appointments proved abortive as at press time. But a reliable source close to the Amayanabo who spoke anonymously on phone to our correspondent said that the Amayanabo and his chiefs, who were absent in the meeting were unaware of the appointments and that the so called Regent and his council of chiefs were APC members, loyal to the former Gov Rotimi Amaechi faction of the party.