Delta HOSTCOM chair says suspended youth leader not elected

...posits group has no funds provision

Chairman of the Delta state chapter of Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), Snr. Evangelist Gabriel Isibeluo, says aggrieved state youth leader, Lawrence Oluku, was never elected for the position from which he was suspended.

While  reacting to a petition written against him by the youth leader, the chairman disclosed that he appealed to the body to appoint him because it was the turn of the Isoko ethnic nationality to produce one for the state chapter.

Evang. Isibeluo Gabriel addressing the audience at Ika

Speaking to Isoko Mirror at the HOSTCOM secretariat in Effurun, Uvwie council area of the state, on May 22, Evang. Isibeluo explained that the petitioner never purchased, filled nor had either of his community heads (monarch or president general) sign the required form.

It will be noted that the youth leader had in a petition dated April 20, demanded the withdrawal of the "suspension," alleged "marginalization and illegality perpetrated" against him by the HOSTCOM chairman, through his lawyers.

According to the petition, Oluku, after due interactions with youths from various oil and gas communities within Delta state, had called for "periodic report from the executives especially as it relates to the finances of the association," to ensure transparency and accountability," during a meeting last September.


The petitioner claiming to be making a case for the youths whom he represents, said they had aired their "displeasure" over the leadership of the chairman (Isibeluo), stating that they had not benefited from the "huge resources, running into hundreds of millions of naira", accruing to the group.

Responding to the petition, Evang. Isibeluo noted that HOSTCOM as a pressure group, "has no provision to get fundings," but government's assistance through the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) in forms of "projects".

Emphasizing on the fact that Oluku's emergence had no electoral bearing, the HOSTCOM boss said, "Lawrence Oluku was not duly elected as a youth leader because he did not purchase the form for election.

"I only prevailed on the HOSTCOM youth body to make him state leader, since it was the turn of Isoko ethnic nationality to produce one. He was never elected. It was at the Isoko general meeting at Opute hall that I prevailed on the youths to produce him. He cannot claim to be elected. You pay for a form and fill it. It must be signed by your president general or king.


"He is an ungrateful human being. He was suspended for six months, since December, by the Isoko ethnic nationality for misconduct. Two, he slapped his assistant, Sunday Enujeke, without cause, right here in the secretariat. Then, he was going to collect money on behalf of Isoko ethnic youths, even though he was the state youth leader. There is a difference in signing money on behalf of Isoko youths and signing for the state youths.

"Instead of showing remorse, he started trying to bully me into reinstating him . I have briefed my lawyers as an individual.
And we (HOSTCOM) has referred the issue to the disciplinary committee led by Matthew Ujorode, to step in and invite him.

"I'm not afraid to go to court. One thing is to make allegations, another thing is to substantiate allegations. I am going to claim damages for defamation of character. I am very prepared to meet him in court," Isibeluo stressed.