“Democracy Suspended? Burutu Chairman Sacks Entire Ojobo Leadership After Killing”
.........Crisis Erupts in Delta Community as Council Dissolves All Leaders After Deadly Clash
by Passman Akpos
Burutu — A dramatic power shift has unfolded in Ojobo Community, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, as authorities dissolved all existing leadership structures following a violent crisis that claimed a life.
The Executive Chairman of Burutu Local Government Area, Hon. Chief Julius Takeme, ordered the immediate dissolution of every executive body in the community, including the Amananawei leadership and the PIA Board, citing a deepening leadership tussle that spiraled out of control.
The announcement came during a high-stakes stakeholders’ meeting on Monday, where the chairman scrapped both rival factions, including a controversial transition government backed by groups pushing for a one-year tenure arrangement.
Takeme declared that the council has now assumed full control of Ojobo’s affairs, pending the conduct of fresh elections scheduled to usher in a new leadership by May 29, 2026. He stressed that the intervention was necessary to restore order and prevent further bloodshed.
In the interim, administrative duties will be handled directly by the Council Secretary, Barr. Roland Ombe, until a five-man caretaker committee is constituted to oversee the community.
Ojobo Community has been locked in a prolonged leadership crisis, with factions sharply divided over tenure issues. Despite earlier peace directives from the council, tensions escalated into a violent confrontation that resulted in the death of a resident—an incident that ultimately triggered the sweeping dissolution.
Reacting to the move, community stakeholder Karona Etonye described the chairman’s decision as “timely and necessary,” noting that it offers a pathway to stability.
Also lending his voice, Julius Pondi, member representing Burutu Federal Constituency, appealed for calm and urged residents to embrace peace, while backing the council’s intervention.
Security agencies, including the Area Commander of Burutu and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), were present at the meeting, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The unfolding developments have heightened attention on Ojobo Community, with many observers warning that the success or failure of the council’s intervention could shape stability across other restive communities in the Niger Delta.
