Bayelsa State Government has identified the clamour for membership of cluster development boards as one of the causes of the communal crisis in the state.
The cluster development boards are a small group formed by oil companies to reach out to the oil-producing communities.
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The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made this known at a meeting with the paramount ruler and other stakeholders of the Oweigbene community in Government House, Yenagoa,.
Ewhrudjakpo, described the do-or-die attitude with which people struggle to become leaders and members of the cluster boards in some communities as demeaning and anti-development.
The deputy governor pointed out that such attitude had led to the abandonment of the people’s traditional occupations on the altar of local oil politics that is serving the interest of oil companies to the detriment of the communities.
He said the unnecessary delay in the composition of the boards as a result of bickering was causing great loss not only to the affected communities but to the entire state economy.
According to him, the non-composition of some of the boards including that of the Oporomor cluster in Ekeremor Local Government Area, had cost the state over N1.5 billion.
He, therefore, directed the Amananaowei of Oweigbene, Chief Kali Sito and the CDC Chairman, Mr. Miens Seleware, to sink their differences and nominate representatives of the community to the cluster board without any further delay.
“Becoming a chairman or member of a cluster board is now the order of the day. Let us not kill ourselves over this. People who have served out their full five years’ tenure don’t want to leave for others to take over from them.
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