. . . Community Decry Threat To Eliminate Son
There is a palpable tension as an oil and gas host community, Ogbele and its corporate tenant, Aradel Holdings PLC, formerly Niger Delta Exploration & Production PLC bicker over unfulfilled agreement, threat to son’s life, amongst others.
The bickering if under played might reduce the oil and gas estimated production for the year, which had been on the soaring side in recent years, as the host community is poised to explore all legal means to get what is due it.
The community’s position which was made known through a letter sent to the Rivers Executive Governor, State Commissioner for Police, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Abuja, amongst other places, signed by the Community Development Committee, CDC chairman and Secretary, Chief Christian Oguzor and Comrade Solomon Azubuike Oyagiri respectively.
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The community wondered how a son the company used as a middle man for negotiation during the four days peaceful occupation of its facilities, has been turned as an enemy to be eliminated.
“Our request is simple. The agreement reached during the protest be honoured and implemented. At least, that would be a starting point. Surprisingly, instead of the company to work in that civil direction, it employed intimidation and armtwisting tactics.
“Alhaji Buba and one Ms Ijeoma are the problem. The company wants to kill our son through Alhaji Buba,” they alleged.
Throwing more light to the allegation on threat to life, the Nye Nwhe Ele Ogbele and Uwo Wokwani Ekpeye I of Ekpeye Land, High Chief Prince Chiwhetu Ezegwogwo said; “I was called on the 10th of July, at about 11:30 by Alhaji Buba, through a WhatsApp call and said that he will use every mystical means to destroy my son, Salvation Ezegwogwo.
“When I wanted to respond that he can not because Salvation has done nothing wrong against him nor the company, he refused to listen and ended the call.
“It is pathetic that instead of the company to look for ways to solve the myriads of unfulfilled promises with the host communities, it is employing tactics that would not create mutual relationship.
“I want peace. I am a man of peace but the company through Alhaji Buba and Ms Ijeoma do not want peace for themselves and the company.”
Also contributing, the community youths eldest man, Oyagiri Chime-emele said the youths may not continue to fold its hands to watch the continuous dispoiling of the community social life, ecosystem and environment, without reinjecting into the system through manpower development and corporate social responsibility.
He alleged that the company had sometime ago caused intra communal crisis but warned that enough is enough, since the people are wiser now.
Oyagiri wondered the genuine interest the company has for its principal host community, when it still retains a retiree, Alhaji Buba who is more than 75 years to occupy a position a youth ought to hold.
“This shenanigans by NDPR has to be stopped. It is enough. What they did in the past, causing intra communal crisis would not be allowed to repeat.
“I keep asking myself, Buba, a man that retired from the Nigeria Police over a decade now, and re-engaged by NDPR, still occupying an office meant for the host communities. And with the crowd of unemployed youths roaming the streets. So, when will the youths be employed? It is pathetic, unfortunate and disheartening.
The Diaspolitan magazine investigation revealed a glaring penury in the midst of plenty, with the community dotted with mud houses.
It also found out that the it has no portable drinking water, making due with the natural sombreiro river that transverse its landscape, the community schools dilapidated.
Another major complaint by the people of Ogbele community is their lack of knowledge about the exact amount accrued to the Community Trust Fund and how it is spent. They claimed that no visible projects have been executed to warrant the company to say the community is owing it for over withdrawal from the fund. And again, all the waterfronts used by the company has no written agreement reached, which they say has been their trademark.
Diaspolitan visit to the community further revealed that the said Salvation Ezegwogwo has done some laudable developmental projects in the community, outside his philanthropic gestures. They pointed to the imposing town hall, church projects, scholarship scheme, health care scheme and reconstruction of the road leading into the community through an NDDC contract, which NDPR’s trucks ply to the waterfront where it cargoes crude for sale.
Ogbele Community is in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. It hosts Nigeria’s topmost indigenous exploration and production company, Aradel Holdings PLC, formerly Niger Delta Exploration & Production PLC, parent body of Niger Delta Petroleum Resources PLC, NDPR.
It is said that the company has enjoyed uninterrupted operation over the years, though not because of its applaudable relationship with its host but for the host crave for a peaceful coexistence with the believe that that would attract the needed infrastructural and human capital developments.
