By Sunday Apah
The leadership of Egbema Offshore Communities and Egbema Leaders of Thought (ELOT) have expressed concern over Mr. Mike J. K. Tiemo’s recent malicious and misleading publications targeting Elder Edmund Doyah Tiemo.
In a statement signed by Hon. Joel Bisina and Godwin Tabuka Esq., Vice Chairman and Secretary, Egbema Leaders of Thought (ELOT), the leaders emphasized their disappointment regarding posts circulating on social media and in national newspapers that unjustly tarnish the reputation of Elder Edmund Doyah Tiemo. They alleged that these communications are being orchestrated by Mr. Mike Tiemo and his associates.
“Elder Edmund Doyah Tiemo is well-respected for his discipline, integrity, and honesty,” the statement noted. “As the current chairman of Egbe.a Opudis Host Community Development Trust Board of Trustees, overseeing Chevron Nigeria Limited’s onshore activities, it is impossible for him to interfere in matters concerning the Egbema offshore communities.”
The statement further clarified that Elder Tiemo is dedicated solely to advocating for the recognition of the offshore communities rather than seeking to become involved with them.
“It is crucial to understand that the process of securing Egbema offshore recognition is ongoing and necessitates the collaboration of all stakeholders,” the leaders reminded. “Elder E. E. Tiemo has demonstrated remarkable leadership and resource mobilization alongside other leaders to support this important cause.”
Recognized as a prominent community leader across the entire Egbema Kingdom and the Polobubor community, Elder E. E. Tiemo is known for his commitment to peace, development, and excellence in leadership.
The statement countered claims about Mr. Mike Tiemo, stating, “The 93 Egbema offshore communities have rallied behind Elder Tiemo, contradicting unfounded assertions of his rejection. It is evident that Mr. Mike Tiemo and his associates have been dismissed, leading to their baseless outcry.”
Furthermore, it was noted, “Mr. Mike Tiemo appears to be afraid, as the Polobubor community he hails from will not tolerate his questionable actions regarding offshore matters, particularly given his failure to initiate any projects in his community over the past 20 years, prior to the introduction of the Petroleum Industry Act.”
The leaders reiterated that Elder Tiemo poses no security threat to the offshore communities, instead highlighting that it is Mr. Mike Tiemo and his associates who may pose concerns due to their actions.
“Elders and leaders from Egbema communities have called upon Elder Edmund Tiemo to guide the kingdom, recognizing his experience and the respect he commands both legally and traditionally.”
“Elder Edmund Tiemo is a genuine development advocate,” the statement added. “He provides free treatments for Egbema sons and daughters every year, offers scholarships to local youth, and organizes annual empowerment programs for men and women in the Kingdom, among many other developmental initiatives.”
As a prince of the Oloduwa ruling house, Elder Tiemo does not need a royal title to uphold justice and truth within the Kingdom. He is a source of inspiration for both the youth and elders of Egbema.
The leaders also noted their awareness of the traditional authority of the Agadagba of Egbema Kingdom and the council led by Chief Tax Agbaibor, particularly in matters concerning the traditional institution.
“Mr. Mike Tiemo has yet to win any court case, and his attempts to obstruct progress in Egbema Kingdom have been noted,” they asserted, encouraging him to await the resolution of the legal matters he claims to have initiated.
The statement concluded, “Egbema Offshore Communities assert that no individual or group has the right to engage in offshore matters without the authority of the relevant community leaders. The only ‘offense’ committed by Elder Edmund Tiemo relates to upholding this principle, which has understandably caused distress for Mr. Mike Tiemo and his associates.”
“We are committed to ensuring that offshore affairs are handled by the communities rather than a select few,” it emphasized. “To stand by and allow unscrupulous individuals to manipulate the Egbema Kingdom for their own selfish interests, as exemplified by Mr. Mike Tiemo and his associates, would be a grave mistake.”
The leaders advised Mr. Mike Tiemo to offer a sincere apology to Elder Tiemo and exercise restraint regarding his criticisms of this dedicated elder statesman who is devoted to peace and progress within Egbema Kingdom.
The Full Text below
THE EGBEMA LEADERS OF THOUGHT (ELOT) BERATE MIKE J. K. TIEMO AND URGES HIM TO BE CAUTIOUS OF ATTACKS ON ELDER EDMUND DOYAH TIEMO AIMED AT SMEARING HIS IMAGE.
The attention of the Egbema Leaders of Thought (ELOT) has been drawn to a malicious and false publication credited to some indigenes of Egbema Kingdom with the caption quoted herein below.
Ordinarily , we would not have responded to the said publication but in order not to allow the general public to be misled and misinformed, we decided to take this path to set the records straight, particularly for the benefit of the reading public, hence we react as follows:
“Warri, Delta State – A storm is brewing in Egbema Kingdom, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, as the Egbema Offshore Communities, in collaboration with the Egbema Communities Peace Development and Humanitarian Rights Association, have raised an urgent alarm over the activities of Mr. Edmund Doyah Tiemo and his cohorts. Comrade Mike J. K. Tiemo – Contact Committee Chairman / Community Leader, Mr. Timi David – Community Leader Mr. Oyibo Tony Onis – Community Leader, Mr. Stanley Soroghaye – Community Leader, Mr. Friday David – Community Leader and Eight other community leaders made available to Daily independent Newspaper , the Egbema Offshore Communities categorically rejected Edmund Doyah Tiemo’s self-proclaimed authority as their representative, warning that his continued interference in community affairs could lead to unrest if not urgently curtailed.”
It is disheartening to read about the post circulating on social media platforms and Leadership Newspaper wherein the image of Elder Edmund Doyah Tiemo who is passionately interested in the development of Egbema kingdom is being dragged in the mud maliciously by Mr. Mike Tiemo and his co-travellers. Nothing can be further from the truth, as will be shown in this rebuttal.
He is known for discipline, integrity, and honesty. As we all know, he is currently the chairman of Egbema Opudis Host Community Development Trust BOT, that is in charge of Chevron Nig. LTD onshore activities. Therefore, it is impossible for him to interfere or seek to become part of the Egbema offshore communities.
It must also be realised that the Egbema offshore recognition is still in the making and requires the efforts of stakeholders and leaders to work closely to achieve the needed result. It is on premise that Elder E.E Tiemo provided leadership and mobilised resources alongside other leaders to pursue the humble course.
E. E. Tiemo is an elder statesman, a successful businessman, and a community leader not just in the Polobubor community but the entire Egbema Kingdom, he is a leader per excellence, peace loving and a development oriented man.
Due to his unwavering and pristine antecedent, the 93 Egbema offshore communities made him their leader against the unfounded claim that he was rejected. It is obvious from the fact that Mr. Mike Tiemo and his co-travellers have been rejected hence this unfounded foul cry.
Mr. Mike Tiemo is afraid because the Polobubor community he came from will not condone his fraudulent activities concerning the offshore matters wherein for the past 20 years he didn’t site any single project in his community till date before the introduction of the PIA.
The elder statesman will never serve as a security threat to Egbema offshore communities except Mr. Mike Tiemo and his co-travellers. Mr. Mike Tiemo is so native and unlearned to know that the leadership that nominated him and his cohorts to serve in the committee he is still clinging to has since relieved them of their assignment because of his dubious act.
Elders and leaders of Egbema communities prevailed on the elder statesman (Elder Edmund Tiemo) to take the mantle of leadership generally in the kingdom based on his experience and track records within and outside the shores of Egbema Kingdom, as he possesses legal and traditional authority to act.
Elder Edmund Tiemo, is the real agent of development whose antecedent is unwavering. From his personal resources, he provides free medical treatment for all Egbema sons and daughters yearly, he provides several scholarships to indigenous people, less privilege, carries out yearly empowerment programs for men and women in the Kingdom and a host of other developmental initiatives.
Elder Edmund Tiemo is from Polobubor, a prince of the Oloduwa ruling house. He needs not to be a chief to ensure that justice and truth is upheld at all times in the Kingdom. He is the rallying point and a source of inspiration to both the young and old in the Egbema Kingdom.
The leaders of communities in the Egbema kingdom are not naive to the royal office of the Agadagba of Egbema Kingdom and the traditional council led by Chief Tax Agbaibor, the Toripuwei of Egbema Kingdom when the subject matter borders on the traditional institution.
Mr. Mike Tiemo, has never won any case in court except to whittle down development he is a clog in the wheel of progress in Egbema Kingdom and he is hereby advised to wait till the outcome of the court cases he claimed to have filed.
The position of the offshore communities in Egbema is very clear that no individual or group of persons have right or authority to deal on issues bordering on offshore except authorized leaders of the communities concerned, this is the only sin committed by Elder Edmund Tiemo and others that is why the message of truthfulness and justice being sent to the discerning public is making Mr. Mike Tiemo and his co-travellers panicking and jittery.
We are only committed to ensure that offshore matters will not be the estate of some individuals but the communities at all times in the Kingdom.
It will only amount to self delusion and wishful thinking for well meaning leaders of the Kingdom to stand idly and allow the fraudulently minded persons to hoodwink the Egbema Kingdom with their illicit and selfish agenda as epitomized by Mr. Mike Tiemo and his co-travellers to strive.
We advise Mr. Mike Tiemo to render an unreserved apology to his uncle and be cautious of his attacks to smear the image of the Elder statesman who is committed to peace and development in the Egbema Kingdom.
HON. JOEL BISINA
VICE CHAIRMAN,
EGBEMA LEADERS OF THOUGHT (ELOT)
BARR. GODWIN TABUKA
SECRETARY, EGBEMA LEADERS OF THOUGHT. (ELOT).
