*Charges security agencies to be alert
WARRI- The Chairman of Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, EGCDF, Chief Michael Johnny have warned the chairman of Benikrukru Community Mr. Victor Eseimieghan over the seven days ultimatum issued to Chevron.
The EGCDF Chairman gave the warning via a phone conversation with our correspondent today while frowning at the ultimatum as he vows to treat anyone who allegedly violates the Global Memorandum of understanding between Chevron and the communities GMOU, in Gbaramatu Kingdom as criminal.
Chief Johnny particularly noted that the Chairman of Benikrukru community knows the right processes and procedures to follow should they have any grievance and demands that the community wishes to address while calling on the security agencies to be at alert in taming any breach of peace in the Abiteye flow station.
According to him, he said Mr. Victor “should know that he does not have the blessing of the Benikrukru community; he do not also have the blessing of the Council, which is to oversee all the communities. So he is on his own. That’s my comment, that’s the comment of the Council.” Michael stated.
Johnny further stressed that as far as he is concerned, the said community is a major benefactor of Chevron while alleging that Benikrukru is a dominant stakeholder in the GMoU with the Oil giants.
On reaching out to the community, Chief Michael Johnny maintains “I have reached out to the community leaders, elders, and traditional councils. Everybody has confirmed to me that they are not aware. There was no such meeting that has been duly agreed by the community to arrive at such ultimatum.” He stated.
He continued ”I believe the Chairman is motivated by some politicians and other elements to carry out that evil plan that he is plotting, I am convinced that by the grace of God he will not succeed, because Benikurukuru community does not have any problem with Chevron, while Chevron on the other hand too does not have any problem with Benikrukru community as well. They are in a cordial relationship. So I advice Victor, to not because of his own personal interest carry out protest to cause unnecessary security hiccups”
“If there is any grievance, you know the right channel to pass through, which is the RDC, and to the best of my knowledge, Benikrukru community is a major stakeholder in the GMoU, and what I know is, the Council has tried their possible best, and I also know that the community is a major beneficiary. As I speak with you, three (3) major projects are being awarded to Benikrukru . I would advise the elders, leaders, and every other person in that community to please call their Chairman to order.
“Anybody who go beyond the GMoU process without passing through the Council, the person is doing that on his own, because there is tripartite agreement that has been put in place between Chevron and the communities, and duly signed by the government, the company, and the communities. If there is any grievance, the Chairman of the community know it better. The tradition is to channel it through the Egbema-Gbaramatu.
“I am calling on all the security agencies to be alert. I am categorically stating it and calling the security agencies to be alert. Anybody who do not duly pass through the Council, and went to destroy any job in the Abiteye Field should be treated as a criminal.” He warns.
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Copyright 2016 GbaramatVoice Newspaper. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.gbaramatuvoicenews.com as the source.
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