25 May 2015, Warri – The Olare-Aja (oldest man) of Kpokpo has denied media reports credited to him claimng that the Itsekiri community in Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, is an appendage to Ugborodu community and not under the headship of an Olare-Aja.
Prince George Fregene, Olare-Aja of Kpokpo, in response to the said report, described the perceived authors as “selfish” indigenes bent on compromising Kpokpo’s collective interest among communities playing host to the $16 billion Gas City Export Processing Zone, EPZ, in the area.
In a chat with Vanguard in Warri, Prince Fregene, said: “I know the peddlers who maliciously tried to use my name to please their paymasters with the falsehood. They even insinuated that Kpokpo had passed a vote of confidence in the Austin Oborogbeyi-led EPZ Interface Committee over its conduct regarding the project.
“I did not at anytime issue or declare this falsehood I read in the papers. We have stressed that Kpokpo is not a part of Madangho or Ugborodo as the EPZ committee has also been insinuating. We, as descendants of Gbateren, are autonomous.
“We further restate our demand for the resignation of the EPZ committee chairman due to his insistence in alienating and compromising Kpokpo’s stake in the project as we strongly pass vote of no confidence in his EPZ interface committee.”
– Vanguard