The South-South Professional & Transparency Initiatives (SSPTI) has faulted a petition submitted to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, by the Young Nigerian Rights Organization (YNRO) over the lingering traditional dispute in Ubulu-Uku, Delta State, describing it as premature, misleading, and without substance.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Ugochukwu Alozie, and made available to journalists in Warri on Thursday, SSPTI condemned what it termed “a deliberate attempt to smear the image of the Delta State Police Command” by the petitioner, Mr. Victor Ojei, popularly known as Wong Box, who also doubles as the YNRO Coordinator.
According to the group, it was improper for Ojei, who hails from Ubulu-Uku and is reportedly aligned with one of the factions in the communal crisis—to file a petition under the guise of human rights advocacy, while being an interested party in the dispute.
“We find it very disturbing that Mr. Ojei is using the cover of a civil society platform to unduly pressure the police into tilting their neutrality in favour of one camp in the Ubulu-Uku crisis,” the statement noted.
The body expressed surprise at the attempt to drag the Delta State Police Command into the internal traditional affairs of Ubulu-Uku. According to the body, it was “shocking” that Victor Ojei’s group tried to link the suspension of the Onishe (traditional Prime Minister) of Ubulu-Uku to the police.
“The question is: was it the police that removed him, or did we in any way influence that decision?” the body queried, stressing that matters of succession and discipline within the traditional council remain the exclusive prerogative of the Ubulu-Uku traditional authorities.
SSPTI also faulted the claim that the Delta Police Command deliberately kept the petition “in view,” stressing that routine procedures must be observed before investigations into such sensitive matters can commence.
“Our findings show that the interval between when the petition was submitted and when YNRO rushed to the IGP was extremely short. The allegation of deliberate frustration by the police does not hold water because petitions go through well-established processes before action can be taken,” Alozie stated.
The group further warned against attempts to politicize or hijack traditional issues under the guise of human rights advocacy, urging stakeholders to allow security agencies to carry out their duties without intimidation or bias.
“Matters of traditional authority and communal disputes are often complex and sensitive. What the Ubulu-Uku community needs now is peace-building, not unnecessary distractions or media campaigns to blackmail the police,” the statement concluded.
