… Tasks Communities on Functional Constitutions
By: Amos Odhe
The Bayelsa State Government has resolved the lingering leadership tussle in Twon-Brass Kingdom, following its intervention and agreement by the feuding parties to immediately withdraw all ongoing court cases concerning the conflict.
It also directed all government-recognized communities to run their affairs based on constitutions that are in line with the provisions of the state Community Administration and Chieftaincy Law to ensure effective leadership at the grassroots level.
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, who made this known at a meeting with the leadership of the five communities in Twon-Brass Kingdom and other top government officials at Government House ,Yenagoa, urged the people to complement government’s effort in maintaining the prevailing peace in the state.
Highlighting the key resolutions reached at the meeting, Dr Peter Akpe, noted that although all the five paramount rulers have equal powers, one of them would play the role of a coordinator for a maximum period of one year to avoid leadership vacuum in the Kingdom.
The Deputy Governor, who stressed that the coordinating arrangement will persist pending the enthronement of a new Amanyanabo, announced the appointment of Chief Beinmo Rufus-Spiff as the Coordinating Amadabo for the next one year with effect from Wednesday 17th June, 2026.
He also announced the setting up of a five-man constitution drafting committee, which has one nominee each from the five communities with Chief Claudius Kune-Igoni of Kemmer-Ama as its Chairman.
Members of the Committee which has eight weeks to complete its assignment include Chief Sisei Eke-Spiff Samuel of Ada-Ama, Chief James Sokari (Cameron-Ama), Chief Randy Sobogboma (Shidi-Ama) and Chief Bio Gbeghasa of Sambo-Ama.
Dr Akpe, who appreciated all the parties for their calm and mature disposition throughout the meeting, urged the paramount rulers and other critical stakeholders of Twon-Brass to always see themselves as “brothers from one large family” and for the progress of their kingdom.
His words: “On the issue of leadership, the 5 Amadabos have equal powers but at particular times like the situation the Kingdom is into now, there will be need for a coordinating Amadabo.
“That coordination does not give the coordinator any exclusive powers. You are just a coordinator among equals for a tenure maximum of one year as agreed. But if a King is not enthroned, there will be another coordinator who will be elected a month to the expiration of the one year tenure.
“We also agreed that the Amadabo of Cameron-Ama should start the coordinating process beginning from today (17th June, 2026). He will be in the saddle coordinating the affairs of the kingdom on all the issues including the finances and give report to the Amadabos once a month.
“All court cases should also be withdrawn. And finally, we resolved that Twon-Brass needs a constitution as a matter of urgency. Consequently, a 5-member constitution drafting committee has been set up with nominations from each of the Amadabos.”
The Bayelsa Number Two Man also emphasized the need for communities to have functional constitutions to make for effective administration and minimize conflicts in the various communities in accordance with the peace and security maintenance agenda of the Governor Douye Diri-led prosperity government.
According to him, the absence of written and functional constitutions in the local communities give room for unnecessary bickerings and leadership tussles, which often result in communal crises.
He said, “We have proposed in the Community Administration Bill that is before the House of Assembly now, and one of the clauses is the clause that all communities recognized by the state government should have a constitution.
“We have also created a provision for fourth class stools, as long as you are recognized by government as a community in the state, you must have a constitution. Everything in a community’s constitution must be in tandem with the State Chieftaincy Law and should not go ultra vires. That will also help to administer our communities effectively.”
Those who made presentations at the meeting include the paramount ruler of Sambo-Ama, Chief Ralph Sambo; that of Ada-Ama, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff, and their Cameron-Ama counterpart, Chief Beinmo Rufus-Spiff.
Others are Chief Oton Efebo-Shidi and Chief Israel Sunny Goli, the paramount of rulers of Shidi-Ama and Kemmer-Ama, respectively.
