A brewing crisis is threatening to engulf the oil-rich Bilabiri Community in Bayelsa State following the alleged refusal of Mr. Tekenane Abaka, Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), to vacate office despite the expiration of his tenure in December 2024.
Tension is reportedly mounting within the community as concerned indigenes warn that the situation could degenerate into violence if urgent steps are not taken by relevant authorities.
Raising the alarm, a concerned indigene of the community, Mr. Lucky Tubotu, called on the Bayelsa State Government to intervene immediately to avert a breakdown of law and order.
“The Bayelsa State Government must act swiftly to prevent chaos in Bilabiri. Mr. Abaka’s continued stay in office after the expiration of his tenure is unconstitutional and a direct threat to peace,” Tubotu said.
According to him, Abaka’s tenure has allegedly been marked by tension, intimidation, violence, and constitutional breaches, accusing him of hijacking community leadership for personal interests at the expense of development in Bilabiri.
Tubotu further alleged that Abaka has openly boasted of having strong political connections, which he believes would enable him to remain in office indefinitely, in defiance of the CDC constitution.
“The tenure of the CDC executive is clearly stated in the community constitution. It is therefore troubling that Mr. Abaka has refused to step down more than one year after his tenure expired, without any notable achievements to justify his overstay,” he said.
He urged the Bayelsa State Government, which he described as peace-loving, not to allow “one individual to impose himself on the collective will of the Bilabiri people.”
Tubotu also expressed concerns over the safety of residents and the security of oil and gas installations in the area, warning that prolonged tension could have wider implications.
In a related development, he called on Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd and other oil and gas servicing firms to discontinue engagement with Abaka and members of what he described as a “self-imposed CDC,” noting that their mandate expired in December 2024.
“Any company or individual dealing with them does so at its own risk,” he cautioned.
The concerned indigene further alleged that in 2025, some CDC executives of Bilabiri 1 Community were involved in the disappearance and alleged sale of 500kVA and 350kVA generators belonging to Bilabiri 1 and 2 Communities, without the consent of Bilabiri 2.
He also raised alarm over the recent alleged theft of an armoured turbine cable drawn from Tunu to supply electricity to Bilabiri 1 and 2 Communities, questioning the role of the CDC leadership and local chiefs who claim to oversee security in the area.
“These critical assets allegedly disappeared under their watch. The self-imposed CDC chairman should be questioned and investigated to unravel the circumstances surrounding these incidents,” Tubotu stated.
He further alleged that the community has come under increased insecurity, accusing Ebimene Abaka, a brother to the CDC chairman, also known as ‘Small Fire’, of unlawfully declaring himself the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Bilabiri.
According to Tubotu, the self-acclaimed CSO has allegedly aided and abetted criminal activities, claiming that critical infrastructure thefts occurred under his watch.
“Bilabiri Community is effectively under siege. The people are living in fear due to the activities of self-imposed leaders and unchecked criminality,” he said.
Tubotu warned that unless the Bayelsa State Government takes decisive action to restore lawful leadership and address the alleged criminal activities, the once peaceful oil- and gas-rich community may descend into crisis.
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Only time will tell how long the people can endure this situation. The warning signs are clear, and urgent intervention is required to prevent Bilabiri from being plunged into chaos,” he concluded.