Oil-producing communities’ rulers suspend Diete-Spiff

The Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON) has indefinitely suspended the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass, Bayelsa State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff.

The body’s national chairman, Owong Effiong Bassey Archianga, at a press briefing yesterday in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State, said the embattled monarch was creating confusion by exhibiting an anti-establishment conduct following his remarks recently in a national daily (not The Guardian).

TROMPCON cautioned the suspended traditional ruler against using the title of national patron pending his readmission.His words: “ TROMPCON Observes with dismay the conscious but deplorable attempt by HRM King Alfred Diete-Spiff to create unwarranted confusion in the body by embarking on anti-TROMPCON activities by denigrating the highly revered stool of the Oba of Benin using the name of TROMPCON. At no time or forum, did TROMPCON mandate or authorise HRM King Diete-Spiff to go fishing for a new national chairman. There was absolutely no need for such venture because the succession mechanism in the association is self-regulatory.”

In a swift reaction, Diete-Spiff said his purported suspension was a fluke, saying the body remains his brain-child and will continue to work for its progress.

Meanwhile, the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) yesterday cleared the air and distanced Oba Ewuare II from any leadership crisis in TROMPCOM.A statement by the monarch’s Chief Press Secretary, Desmond Agbama, expressed shock that Owong Bassey was claiming the chairmanship of the body after Diete-Spiff and other executive members had pleaded with the Oba to chair the association for the next two years.