Just In: Burutu Ex-Aspirants Reject Vote of Confidence on Takeme, Demand Probe into ₦23.7bn Council Funds

Burutu Ex-Aspirants Knock, Trash Vote of Confidence on Takeme, Demand Probe of ₦23.7bn Council Money

By EgbemaVoice 

The Genuine Forum of Former Chairmanship Aspirants in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State has dissociated itself from a purported vote of confidence issued in support of the council chairman, Mr Julius Takeme, describing the publication as misleading and insisting that those behind it do not represent the genuine members of the forum but political appointees and people of poor pedigree.

In a statement signed by seven members of the genuine forum, including Hon. Jude Angodideke, Hon. Paul Oruma, Hon. Duncan Tamaradoubra Forcados, Hon. Chief Godspower Tomone, Hon. Chief Lucky Feizy Oweimieotu, Hon. Stephen Eniekezimene and Hon. Comrade Ozobo Austin, the forum said its members remained the genuine members and committed to transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources.

The genuine former aspirants alleged that individuals who purportedly issued the vote of confidence were either former failed council chairmen or political appointees at the state and local government levels and, therefore, could not legitimately speak on behalf of members of the forum who had continued to demand answers from the council administration.

The genuine Forum said its major concern was not political confrontation with the chairman but the need for proper accountability over funds allegedly received by Burutu Local Government Council. According to the statement, questions had been raised over the alleged management of approximately ₦23.7 billion in council allocations, as well as the financial and contractual details surrounding major projects, including the legislative complex and the new Secretariat.

The genuine forum challenged the council administration to respond to the allegations with verifiable documents, including financial records, approved project costs, contracts, procurement documents, names of contractors and evidence showing the level of execution of the projects.

The genuine former aspirants argued that a political endorsement or vote of confidence could not substitute for financial accountability, stressing that if the administration was confident that the council's resources had been properly managed, the most credible response would be to open the books and provide documentary evidence.

• How the Former Aspirants’ Forum Was Formed

The genuine Forum also provided clarification on the origin of the Forum of Former Chairmanship Aspirants, rejecting claims that it was created as a platform to fight the council chairman.

According to the statement, the forum was established following a reconciliation meeting held at the Bon Hotel in July 2024. The members alleged that, after the meeting, the council chairman contracted Mr. Emma Akpule to create the platform through which former chairmanship aspirants could maintain communication and working synergy.

The genuine group said the forum subsequently evolved into a platform where members could discuss issues affecting the local government and take collective positions on matters of public interest.

It maintained that some former aspirants who later secured political appointments had gradually stopped participating in the forum's meetings and activities and should, therefore, have lost power to speak on behalf of the genuine members who were signatories to this report.

‘Vote of Confidence Cannot Answer Questions on Council Finances’

The genuine former aspirants said their concerns had been repeatedly discussed at meetings of the forum, particularly issues surrounding what they described as the fiscal competence and financial management of the Takeme administration.

They stated that their demand remained straightforward: the council should account for the funds it received and explain how such funds were appropriated and expended.

The statement further alleged that instead of directly addressing the financial questions raised by the genuine Forum, supporters of the Takeme's administration had resorted to political statements, endorsements and cheap blackmails, counters and unhealthy banters.

The genuine former aspirants said they were not opposed to development in Burutu, stressing that their position was driven by the need to ensure that public projects were executed transparently and in accordance with due process.

• Group Challenges Takeme Over Legislative Complex, Secretariat Projects

Particular attention was drawn to the legislative complex and the new Secretariat project.

The genuine former aspirants called for disclosure of the approved costs, contractual arrangements, contractors responsible for the projects and evidence of compliance with procurement and other relevant procedures.

They also raised allegations concerning the chairman's possible involvement in contracting arrangements, but stressed that such claims should be resolved through documentary evidence and proper investigation rather than political exchanges.

The genuine Forum therefore challenged the Takeme's administration to provide the relevant records and demonstrate that the projects were properly conceived, approved, funded and executed.

•Former Chairmen, Appointees Asked to Account for Their Positions

The genuine group said it was unfortunate that some failed former council chairmen, including Ebikeme Clark and Konbolus Ekisa, were now publicly passing a vote of confidence on Mr. Julius Takeme, despite what they described as the absence of visible transformation and a clear development agenda in Burutu Local Government Area.

“It is unfortunate that some former council chairmen, including Ebikeme Clark and Konbolus Ekisa, are now passing a vote of confidence on Mr. Julius Takeme, a chairman under whose administration the people of Burutu are yet to witness the level of visible transformation and clear development direction they deserve,” the group stated.

On Ebikeme Clark, the group noted that he currently serves as Commissioner for Riverine Infrastructure in Delta State, stressing that his position comes with the responsibility to deliver measurable impact to the people.

“It is public knowledge that Chief Ebikeme Clark currently serves as Commissioner for Riverine Infrastructure. A public officer occupying such a sensitive position owes the people performance, impact and accountability, rather than defending actions and financial matters that have not been satisfactorily accounted for. However, we will address his case at the appropriate time,” the statement added.

The genuine group also criticised Bineabi Adowei, whom it described as a self-acclaimed aspirant for the Delta South Senatorial District on the platform of an opposition party, accusing him of allegedly prioritising political interests over the concerns of the Burutu people.

“We are disappointed that Bineabi Adowei, who presents himself as a Delta South Senatorial candidate, would choose to support an administration facing serious questions over the management of council resources instead of using his political ambition to build confidence among the electorate. Such a position raises serious questions about the direction and credibility of his ambition,” the group said.

On Konbolus Ekisa, the former aspirants questioned his decision to endorse the Takeme administration, recalling what they described as his poor record while serving as council chairman.

“We are particularly concerned about the position of Mr. Konbolus Ekisa, whose tenure as council chairman was characterised, in our view, by poor performance, lack of direction and inadequate development. For him to now issue an unsolicited vote of confidence in the present administration amounts to endorsing a system that the people are demanding should be subjected to greater accountability. To us, this is a case of corruption fighting back, and it is deeply disappointing,” they stated.»

The genuine forum also questioned the credibility of Francis Bomiebi, urging residents of the Ogulagha community to assess his record and public standing.

“As for Francis Bomiebi, we believe the people of Ogulagha are in the best position to speak about his record, character and contribution to the community. We find it unfortunate that individuals whose public records are being questioned would now position themselves as defenders of an administration facing serious allegations,” the group said.

Speaking about Ebisinne Kofee, the group said it was disappointing by what it described as his support for the Takeme administration.

“Mr. Ebisinne Kofee is someone we have always respected, but his decision to support what we consider a failed administration has become a source of disappointment. We believe public figures should stand on the side of accountability and the people, particularly when questions are being raised over the management of public resources,” the statement read.

The genuine group also questioned the continued political support allegedly being offered to the administration by Ebike Oromoni.

“Who is Mr. Ebike Oromoni, and why would someone who, in the past, criticised the same system now support it? We find such a reversal of position difficult to understand. If the system was previously considered problematic, the people deserve to know what has changed,” the group stated.

The genuine former aspirants further mentioned Sunny Perekeme, Collins Enekorogha, Joseph Alubeze, Murphy Ololobou, Churchil Botu and Humphrey Oluku, of people of no bearing and pedigree, describing them as fear weather friends.

“We are not surprised that the likes of Sunny Perekeme, Collins Enekorogha, Joseph Alubeze, Murphy Ololobou, Churchil Botu and Humphrey Oluku are endorsing a failed government. We know them as fair weather friends from onset", they added.

‘We Will Not Be Intimidated’

The forum said it would not be distracted by what it described as attempts to undermine or silence genuine members demanding transparency and accountability.

It maintained that the people of Burutu had the right to know how funds belonging to the local government were received, appropriated and spent.

According to the group, the controversy could be resolved if the relevant financial and project documents were made available for scrutiny.

The genuine former aspirants therefore called on the Takeme administration to provide verifiable answers to the questions raised, insisting that transparency and documentary evidence remained the most credible means of establishing whether the council's resources had been properly managed.

They stressed that their position should not be interpreted as a personal campaign against the chairman or an opposition to the current regime, but as a demand for responsible management of public resources.

The genuine Forum concluded that “no amount of political statements, praise singing or manufactured endorsements” could replace financial accountability, adding that the genuine members of the forum would continue to demand transparency on behalf of the people of Burutu.