The Achi Mbieri community, Mbaitoli Council Area of Imo State, has decried a lack of accountability from its leaders over oil revenue accruing to the community.
A group of concerned citizens, under the aegis of the Achi Stakeholders Forum, expressed this after a meeting with men and women of the community at the Achi Primary School field on Sunday.
Our correspondent reports that, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, part of the revenue accruable to the oil-rich community had been paid by Seplat Energy, an oil exploration company.
The group said the money, received by the community’s President-General, Mr Victor Iwuagwu, was distributed by the P-G, albeit inequitably, among the villages comprising the community and without the supervision of the community’s executive council.
Speaking to newsmen, the community’s Financial Secretary, Mr Richard Durunna, denied involvement in the said transaction, adding that Iwuagwu had unilaterally run the affairs of the community without input from other members of the executive council.
Durunna, however, said that arising from the meeting, the stakeholders and community members agreed that a 48-hour ultimatum be served on the P-G for him to convene an emergency meeting and clarify issues to the community.
“I am completely unaware that Seplat Energy already paid us. I only got wind of it when the various villages confirmed receiving money from the P-G, and when I asked him the sharing formula, he said he shared it according to instructions given to him by his late mother in a dream.
“I find this bizarre and disturbing and call for accountability so that records can be set straight,” he said.
Another concerned stakeholder, Mr Charles Opara, described the discovery of oil in the community as a “supposed blessing rather than a reason for chaos” and called on Iwuagwu to desist from personalising its gains and give a proper account of his stewardship.
The community’s Traditional Prime Minister, Nzeh Adolphus Nnadi, also accused Iwuagwu of personalising funds raised for the community’s hospital and from a recent fundraising event.
He called for a forensic investigation to be carried out by a panel of inquiry to set matters right.
A youth leader, Mr Chigazu Ohamadike, called for calm and a peaceful resolution of the differences.
Our correspondent reports that efforts made to reach Iwuagwu proved abortive, as he repeatedly declined his phone calls.
