Ojobo, Burutu LGA , Delta State
A respected youth advocate and community leader, Comrade Brisibe Godgift, has openly criticized the recent extension of leadership tenure in the Ojobo Federated Community, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. In a video currently making rounds on social media—and exclusively obtained by Nigeria Daily Chronicles—Comrade Brisibe described the move as undemocratic, unaccountable, and a clear betrayal of the people's trust.
In his passionate address, Comrade Brisibe condemned the decision to extend the tenure of the community’s executive leadership from one year to two years, calling it a dangerous shift done without due process or constitutional backing. According to him, this extension was carried out arbitrarily, without community consensus or any documented framework to guide such a significant change.
"There is no binding constitution in place to regulate the affairs of our community leadership. More disturbing is the fact that we don’t even have an auditing committee to check how our collective funds are being managed," Brisibe lamented.
He stressed that during the original one-year tenure, community leaders were never subjected to financial scrutiny. There were no accountability measures, no regular reports, and no financial transparency—leaving community funds at the mercy of those in power. He warned that extending this tenure without reforms would only worsen the situation.
"With this proposed two-year tenure, impunity will thrive. Leaders will act without fear, and without checks, the community's development will continue to suffer," he added.
The comrade also raised concerns about the disruption of the long-standing rotational leadership system (zoning arrangement) among the various quarters of the Ojobo Federated Community. He accused a few elite individuals of hijacking the process for their selfish interests, thereby denying other quarters their rightful opportunity to lead.
"A particular quarter has waited patiently for years for their turn. Now, this unjust extension has scattered the zoning structure, and it is deeply unfair. This is why I strongly oppose this tenure elongation," he stated emphatically.
He elaborate further, noting that:
"Furthermore, our village has a long-standing zoning formula, which is recognized and practiced annually. This formula ensures that leadership positions are rotated among different quarters of the village, providing equal opportunities for representation.
However, the current leadership's extension to a two-year tenure disrupts this established zoning system. The quarters that were initially slated to assume leadership positions are now being bypassed, leaving expectant candidates without a clear path forward.
These individuals had been planning and campaigning for their turn at leadership, only to have the rules changed midstream. To rectify this situation, it's essential that the community thoroughly evaluates and settles these zoning issues before implementing any extensions to the leadership tenure."
Comrade Brisibe further highlighted the deplorable state of infrastructure in Ojobo despite the community's status as a major oil-producing area in Delta State. He painted a grim picture of neglect and underdevelopment:
"We are an oil-producing community—one of the largest in Burutu LGA. Yet, we have no electricity, no hospital, no borehole water, no good roads. What exactly do we have to show for our contributions to the wealth of this state?"
He decried the failure of past and present leaderships to prioritize the welfare of the people, especially the youths, accusing them of enacting self-serving policies that deepen poverty and exclusion rather than foster unity and growth.
Brisibe passionately called on the people of Ojobo to rise and demand better. He urged the community to immediately put in place a strong, people-oriented constitution and establish a functional auditing committee to ensure transparency in governance and safeguard the community’s commonwealth.
"Ojobo deserves better. Our youths deserve opportunities, not manipulation. The time to act is now."
His call has since sparked widespread discussion across social media platforms, with many expressing agreement with his sentiments and calling for a community-wide review of the decision.
As tension continues to build, all eyes are now on the leadership of Ojobo Federated Community to respond to these concerns and restore faith in the community’s democratic processes.
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