Aggrieved oil producing communities in Delta rethink confrontation with FG over continued neglect

AKHERE Godwin, Benin

Aggrieved oil and gas producing communities in Urhobo and Isoko in Delta state, Thursday, resolved to give the Federal Government time to properly look into their case following the prompt intervention of the Niger Delta Progressive Forum (NDPF), a non-governmental organization, based in Benin, the Edo State capital.

They, however, appealed to All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently come to the aid of Ughievwen kingdom following years of neglect as an oil and gas producing area in terms of development and employment.

Members of the communities in a letter to President Buhari dated 1st September, 2105, which was delivered, Thursday, through the office of the NDPF, urged the federal government to live up to its promise to provide succour towards alleviating the plight of hundreds of thousands of people of the areas being threatened by pollution and other environmental degradations.

They reiterated their unflinching resolve to allow for the opening of the previously shut Utorogu gas plant, flow station and well heads and to support the change as well as the anti-corruption agenda of the federal government in order to ensure peace and development in the oil rich region and the entire nation.

It would be recalled that the people who constitute the host communities producing oil and gas in Urhobo and Isoko nations in OMLs 30, 34 and 65 had earlier staged a peaceful protest which culminated in the shutdown of the oil facilities in the area over the failure of the federal government to listen to complaints.

Chairman of Out-Jeremi community, Olorugun Eric K. Sajini and President General of Edjophe community Chief E.O.B. Akpoguma both of Ughelli South council area of Delta state, reminded President Buhari that the federal and state governments had in the past set up intervention agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC), which they stated served as drain pipes through which corruption thrives in the area.

According to the duo who are also President General and Acting Secretary/President General of Forum of chairmen of the communities “these federal and state agencies rather than alleviate the plight of the people, now serve as drain pipes through which corruption thrives.”

“It is our belief, Your Excellency, that the present administration of federal government with its change agenda and anti corruption crusade will bring succour to our people. In as much as we are ready to support your administration, it is our fervent prayer that you setup a fact finding body that will look through the areas and report to you on the way forward. It is our belief also that since the Niger Delta Progressive Forum has intervened in this matter they will be able to follow it to a conclusive end.”

The chairman of the NDPF, Hon. Austin Atakpo said the essence of intervention of the body was basically to ensure that peace reigns within the region which contributes more of the nation’s wealth and that with the shutdown of the gas plant in the communities it was felt that activities of the people did not send the right signal to the present government in place.

Atakpo pointed out that the leadership of the NDPF needed to prove to the federal government that ‘we are in support of what it is doing,’ stressing that shutting down the gas plant was a distraction even though the issues raised by the aggrieved communities were germane.

He added that there was the urgent need for the necessary authority to be aware of such ugly development for possible intervention in the overall interest of the people, the region and the country.