The Chairman of Oloma Community in Bonny Local Government Area, Elder Iderima Waribor has come under fire for speaking up about happenings in the oil rich Community.

The backlash is coming from a community member, Sydney Allison, who responded to an interview granted Kristina Reports by Elder Waribor recently in a message he sent to Kristina Reports via the messaging application, WhatsApp on Friday, October 28, 2022.

Allison, who described the published interview as “rubbish and stupid publication,” accused the Oloma Chairman of lying even while claiming to be a pastor, saying “a pastor lying to this level, God, abeg oh”, declining further clarification.

When asked which aspect of his submissions are lies and to confirm or deny if there was a judgment ordering Shell to cease dealing with certain persons as representatives of Oloma Community, he declined, saying he needs to secure permission to speak, though he stopped short of saying from whom he needs the permission.

Pressed further to confirm or deny that the Oloma Community members came together and installed a new leadership for the Community, he promised to get back to the virtual medium with a proper response to the claims made by Elder Iderima Waribor.

The Oloma Chairman had disclosed in his interview that a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt presided over by Justice George Omereji had on Thursday, March 10, 2011 in Suit No. PHC/513/2005 set aside the appointment of Messrs A. E. Hart and I. A. Sokari as representatives of Oloma Community with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

He further disclosed that the court further ordered that all activities relating to the day-to-day administration of the community is sequestered under the authority of the Elders Council of Oloma Community, but regretted that the decision of the court, which he stated was now status barred, was not obeyed for 11 years down the line.  

The cleric who is serving as a minister with the God’s Word Power Ministry, Port Harcourt informed that members of the community in June 2022 set up a new leadership with him as the Chairman.