OML 53 SAGA: OMERELU CONCERNED STAKEHOLDERS BERATE MEMBER REPRESENTING IKWERRE CONSTITUENCY FOR PRESENTING A MALICIOUS PETITION BEFORE THE RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
The concerned citizens/stakeholders of Omerelu Community on Friday berated the member representing Ikwerre Constituency in Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Anslem Oguguo, for presenting a malicious petition before the Rivers State House of Assembly without consulting the host community.
It would be recalled that Hon Oguguo, on Thursday, 19 September, 2019, laid a petition before the Rivers State House of Assembly alleging that the Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (NDPR), operator of OML 53 Oil Field, was denying the host community (Omerelu) of their rights and should immediately be called to order.
While issuing a communique signed by Mr Ezekiel Nwandikom, Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman of Omerelu Community, Hon Ndubuisi Amadi, Councillor representing Ward 5 (Omerelu) in Ikwerre Legislative Assembly, Hon ThankGod Ohaekwe, former Ward 5 Councillor, Hon Lawrence Wagbara, immediate past Leader of Ikwerre Legislative Assembly, and Mr Aleruchi Didia-Wisu, in the presence of the Royal Highness of Omerelu Community, HRH Eze Ben O. Ugo (Elumuoha VIII), Hon Barr Sunny Wondikom, Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ikwerre LGA, amongst others, the concerned stakeholders disassociated themselves from the petition tendered by Hon Oguguo which purported to have emanated from the leadership of the community representing the six land owning families of Omuagwor, Omerelu, stating that the company (NDPR), upon the acquisition of the ownership of the OML 53, Omerelu, in Ikwerre LGA from the former operators, Chevron Nigeria Limited, duly approached the six land owning families concerned in Omerelu Community for the acquisition of their land on leasehold for the purpose of oil and gas exploration.
The concerned citizens/stakeholders, therefore, made the following position:
1. That the company (NDPR) upon acquisition of the said land from the families had paid due compensation for crops and economic trees to individuals and families respectively.
2. That the company (NDPR) upon the conclusion of negotiations on the period of the leasehold and rate payable for the leasehold (per plot/acre) had made payment purportedly covering the entire areas acquired and for the agreed specified period. Even though, some members of the land owning families are of the view that the amount paid by the company did not cover the period of the leasehold which is already under investigation by a joint committee of the host community and the company set up by all interested parties including the Chairman of Ikwerre LGA, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the CDC, Councillor of Omerelu and others, upon timely intervention of Ikwerre Local Government Council Chairman.
3. That the company (NDPR) upon payment of the due compensation for crops and economic trees, jointly setup an MoU drafting committee along side with the host community, Ikwerre Local Government Council and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs which has been recently concluded awaiting the final ratification by the general stakeholders.
4. That the company recently employed about 50 youths from the community following the effort and the intervention of Ikwerre Local Government Council Chairman and the aforesaid joint committee. The company has assured that it is still willing to employ as time goes on as the opportunity comes.
5. The company (NDPR), in line with its policy, is making conscientious effort in maintaining a cordial relationship with the host community upon the said intervention of Ikwerre Local Government Chairman. This has been demonstrated by the regular meetings between the company and the host community.
6. That the company has been complying with the provisions of the local content and a committee has been set up to always liaise with the family representatives to ensure strict compliance on the areas of local content in terms of supplies and contract based on the state of works that are ongoing and available.
The appalled concerned stakeholders of Omerelu noted that the misrepresentation of facts made by Hon Oguguo, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, was as a result of the disconnect between him and the people he represents, adding that he is not in touch with the realities on ground.
While saying that Omerelu Community and Apani Community (hometown of Hon Anslem Oguguo), including other communities in the constituency, have been taken hostage and rendered desolate by daredevil cultists, kidnappers and hoodlums, the concerned stakeholders wondered why their representative has never deemed it necessary to pay a visit to the communities or draw the attention of the hallow chamber to the insecurity challenges but preferred to allow himself to be misinformed by a few bad eggs in Omerelu Community who grow fast when the community is boiling in crisis.
On that premise, they called on Hon Oguguo to amongst other things do the following:
1. Pay a visit to his constituency to ascertain the level of damage done by cult-related violence.
2. Consult and liaise with the Hon. Council Chairman, Ikwerre LGA, Hon Councillor representing Omerelu Ward 5, the Royal Highness of Omerelu, the Chairman, Community Development Committee and other relevant stakeholders.
3. Resist and abstain from falling into the temptation of being mislead by some mischievous and evil minded individuals in the community who want to achieve their selfish aim to the detriment of their peaceful co-existence and unity.
Conclusively, the concerned citizens stated that their present relationship with NDPR was seemingly cordial and needs the inputs of all relevant stakeholders to build on and sustain, reiterating that they will always resort to the Rivers State House of Assembly as a constituted authority whenever the need arises or if the company (NDPR) does otherwise to their detriment.
It would be recalled that Hon Oguguo, on Thursday, 19 September, 2019, laid a petition before the Rivers State House of Assembly alleging that the Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (NDPR), operator of OML 53 Oil Field, was denying the host community (Omerelu) of their rights and should immediately be called to order.
While issuing a communique signed by Mr Ezekiel Nwandikom, Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman of Omerelu Community, Hon Ndubuisi Amadi, Councillor representing Ward 5 (Omerelu) in Ikwerre Legislative Assembly, Hon ThankGod Ohaekwe, former Ward 5 Councillor, Hon Lawrence Wagbara, immediate past Leader of Ikwerre Legislative Assembly, and Mr Aleruchi Didia-Wisu, in the presence of the Royal Highness of Omerelu Community, HRH Eze Ben O. Ugo (Elumuoha VIII), Hon Barr Sunny Wondikom, Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ikwerre LGA, amongst others, the concerned stakeholders disassociated themselves from the petition tendered by Hon Oguguo which purported to have emanated from the leadership of the community representing the six land owning families of Omuagwor, Omerelu, stating that the company (NDPR), upon the acquisition of the ownership of the OML 53, Omerelu, in Ikwerre LGA from the former operators, Chevron Nigeria Limited, duly approached the six land owning families concerned in Omerelu Community for the acquisition of their land on leasehold for the purpose of oil and gas exploration.
The concerned citizens/stakeholders, therefore, made the following position:
1. That the company (NDPR) upon acquisition of the said land from the families had paid due compensation for crops and economic trees to individuals and families respectively.
2. That the company (NDPR) upon the conclusion of negotiations on the period of the leasehold and rate payable for the leasehold (per plot/acre) had made payment purportedly covering the entire areas acquired and for the agreed specified period. Even though, some members of the land owning families are of the view that the amount paid by the company did not cover the period of the leasehold which is already under investigation by a joint committee of the host community and the company set up by all interested parties including the Chairman of Ikwerre LGA, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the CDC, Councillor of Omerelu and others, upon timely intervention of Ikwerre Local Government Council Chairman.
3. That the company (NDPR) upon payment of the due compensation for crops and economic trees, jointly setup an MoU drafting committee along side with the host community, Ikwerre Local Government Council and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs which has been recently concluded awaiting the final ratification by the general stakeholders.
4. That the company recently employed about 50 youths from the community following the effort and the intervention of Ikwerre Local Government Council Chairman and the aforesaid joint committee. The company has assured that it is still willing to employ as time goes on as the opportunity comes.
5. The company (NDPR), in line with its policy, is making conscientious effort in maintaining a cordial relationship with the host community upon the said intervention of Ikwerre Local Government Chairman. This has been demonstrated by the regular meetings between the company and the host community.
6. That the company has been complying with the provisions of the local content and a committee has been set up to always liaise with the family representatives to ensure strict compliance on the areas of local content in terms of supplies and contract based on the state of works that are ongoing and available.
The appalled concerned stakeholders of Omerelu noted that the misrepresentation of facts made by Hon Oguguo, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, was as a result of the disconnect between him and the people he represents, adding that he is not in touch with the realities on ground.
While saying that Omerelu Community and Apani Community (hometown of Hon Anslem Oguguo), including other communities in the constituency, have been taken hostage and rendered desolate by daredevil cultists, kidnappers and hoodlums, the concerned stakeholders wondered why their representative has never deemed it necessary to pay a visit to the communities or draw the attention of the hallow chamber to the insecurity challenges but preferred to allow himself to be misinformed by a few bad eggs in Omerelu Community who grow fast when the community is boiling in crisis.
On that premise, they called on Hon Oguguo to amongst other things do the following:
1. Pay a visit to his constituency to ascertain the level of damage done by cult-related violence.
2. Consult and liaise with the Hon. Council Chairman, Ikwerre LGA, Hon Councillor representing Omerelu Ward 5, the Royal Highness of Omerelu, the Chairman, Community Development Committee and other relevant stakeholders.
3. Resist and abstain from falling into the temptation of being mislead by some mischievous and evil minded individuals in the community who want to achieve their selfish aim to the detriment of their peaceful co-existence and unity.
Conclusively, the concerned citizens stated that their present relationship with NDPR was seemingly cordial and needs the inputs of all relevant stakeholders to build on and sustain, reiterating that they will always resort to the Rivers State House of Assembly as a constituted authority whenever the need arises or if the company (NDPR) does otherwise to their detriment.
No comments
Lets have your comment on this post here.
Thanks