Disclaimer: Chief Negerese Is A Peace-Builder Of Youths

The attention of the leadership and concerned stakeholders of Amatu Community has been drawn to a publication containing misleading serious allegations concerning an alleged conflict between Amatu and Bilabiri communities, including mischievous accusations against a peace-builder and development oriented leader, Hon. Berry Negerese.

We the leadership and stakeholders of Amatu community in Ekeremor Local Government area of Bayesa State, condemn in strong terms of the frivolous allegations against Hon. Berry of sponsoring or financing one Mr Man Job and Mr First-boy Job in carrying out attacks against Bilabiri community.

In a statement signed on Sunday by the CDC Chairman, Comrade Firstboy Job, the CDC Secretary, Comrade Joseph Seimode and the Youth President, Comrade Dennis Ebifiegbene, described the accusations as misleading and frivolous with ill intentions to create disunity between the two peaceful communities.

As concerned critical stakeholders of Amatu community, we wish to state categorically that the claims contained in the publication attributed to Dcn. Ebomowei Peter David, are unfounded and misleading claims with intentions to malign the image and reputation of the accused persons over the alleged conflict between the two communities.

We wish to state unequivocally that Hon. Berry Negerese is not a sponsor of violence, neither is he an architect of crisis nor an enemy of peaceful coexistence. The allegations contained in the said publication are hereby categorically rejected and should be disregarded by the general public.

Hon. Berry Negerese is widely regarded by those who have interacted with him and witnessed his interventions in the communities as a peace-builder, community-minded stakeholder and development-oriented leader who has consistently advocated dialogue, unity and peaceful coexistence in the area.

His approach to community growth and development has been centred on bringing people together rather than creating divisions. When disagreements and competing interests can easily generate tension within communities, his consistent position has been that disputes should be resolved through dialogue, consultation, mutual understanding and lawful processes.

One of the areas in which Hon. Berry Negerese has demonstrated particular commitment is youth development and empowerment. He will never at any point encourage young people to become involved in activities capable of threatening peace and security that he has consistently supported initiatives aimed at improving the welfare, prospects and participation of youths in community affairs.

He believes that providing younger generation with opportunities, skills and legitimate means of livelihood is essential to reducing vulnerability to crime, violence and social unrest, whose interest in young people is driven by the understanding that youths constitute a critical component of the future of the communities.

Similarly, claims concerning the alleged installation of community leaders, alleged impersonation, oil company contracts and supposed attempts to undermine community leadership, are misleading informations due to refusal to step aside as his tenure has expired.

Amatu community has a community development committee leadership tenureship of two years. Qualified candidates are elected quarterly from the three quarters of the community, namely, Tobobiri, Onadiri and Ebiribodo quarters, which has been maintained peacefully and unitedly over the years.

In recent chairmanship leadership of the community, Mr Ebi O. Rames from Onadiri quarter by birth, ruled from 2022-2024, Dcn Ebomowei Peter David from Ebiribodo quarter by marriage, ruled from 2024-2026, and the current chairman, Mr Firstboy Job who is from Tobobiri quarter by birth, whose tenure will expire on the 5th of January, 2028.

Dcn. Ebomowei Peter David, who is the self acclaimed chairman of the community tenure has expired, and he has refused to step aside for the new elected chairman and his executives to take over leadership of the community, which is the basic reason behind the misleading accusations against leaders.

We are particularly concerned that the publication could unnecessarily inflame tensions between Amatu and Bilabiri communities, which have historically maintained relationships and interactions. It is therefore imperative that all responsible individuals refrain from statements capable of escalating an already sensitive situation.

The general public is therefore strongly urged to disregard the allegations contained in the said publication and refrain from forwarding, republishing or embellishing the claims, particularly where such circulation may create fear, hatred, retaliation or further tension between neighbouring communities.

The community leadership further appeal to journalists, bloggers, social media administrators and other media practitioners to exercise the highest level of professional responsibility by verifying sensitive allegations before publishing or republishing them.

Matters involving community disputes, alleged criminal conduct and security concerns require careful verification and balanced reporting. It’s pertinent to note that no individual should be convicted in the court of public opinion based solely on unverified accusations.

Importantly, we urge the people of Amatu and Bilabiri communities to remain calm, united and peaceful rejecting provocations, and refusing to allow unverified allegations to destroy the longstanding relationship and peaceful coexistence between the two communities over the past decades.

We reaffirm our commitment to peace, truth, justice and peaceful coexistence, and urge the general public to completely disregard the claims contained in the said publication as the claims are unfounded and mischievous to defame the image and reputation of the wrongly accused personalities.

We call on all the relevant security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders and stakeholders to remain vigilant and to pursue every genuine complaint through lawful channels. Anyone found, after due investigation, to have committed an offence should face the law, irrespective of status or affiliation.