•GYC backs welders protest
•Chevron must adhere to the long established sharing formula-GYC President
•All we are asking for is justice
As part of their resolve to continue with their demand for justice and protection of the nascent peace in the area, the Gbaramatu Youth Council (GYC) Worldwide, has again called on the Federal Government to prevail on Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) to give them their rightful place in the ongoing Escravos pipeline contract; that they will not fold their hands and watch the ongoing project.
This call according to the group also affects all the companies who are contracted by CNL to carry out the laying of pipes from Escravos Tank Farm to Dangote Refinery in Lagos state.
GYC made this known recently in a release signed by their President Comr. Christopher Etuemi Wuruyai and made available to GbaramatuVoice.
Comr. Wuruyai explained that on this subject matter, the group has already written to CNL to open the door for negotiations with them for the interest of peace in line with the provision of Local Content Law.
Continuing, he pointed out that their demand for the protection of their pride of place in the project is necessitated by facts that the Escravos Tank Farm also store and its been serviced by oil that is drawn from both Egbema/Gbaramatu Kingdoms respectively.
“Any project that concerns Escravos Tank Farm, there is an already established sharing formula for both the Ijaws of Egbema and Gbaramatu and our Itsekiri neighbours.
Contrary to this existing sharing formula, GYC alleged that, “CNL has decided to shortchange the Gbaramatu Youths by telling us that the project does not include our land knowing very well that the oil they intend to transport from Escravos to Dangote Refinery is collated from Egbema/Gbaramatu kingdoms.
“Another point they have failed to remember is the fact that all materials in and out of Escravos are transported throughout the stretch of Gbaramatu Kingdom. And CNL thinks we the Gbaramatu Youths will just fold our hands and watch this project to go without giving us our pride of place?
“It is on the above ground that we are saying that any form of shortchanging will meet a stiff resistance from us” the group added.
As part of their intention to go any length in the protection of their pride of place, the youths insisted that they supported their welders under the aegis of Nigerian Welders Association, Gbaramatu Unit to stage a peaceful protest to the work site in Escravos on Monday the 30th October.
Comr. Etuemi Wuruyai further accused Chevron of being behind the attack they received on the day of that peaceful protest from their Itsekiri neighbours but warned that Chevron should do the needful to avert the looming danger.
On the way forward, the group stated that the necessary doors of negotiation which they seek from CNL and the four contracted companies must be open to them in addition to meeting their other demands.
The group, therefore, called on the all relevant authorities and security outfits specifically the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the know that we will not be held responsible for the aftermath necessitated by any act of provocation from our immediate neighbor, the Ugborodo Itsekiri youths.
GYC President finally urged the federal and state government to prevail on Chevron Nigeria Limited, while insisting the fact that justice they seek and justice they must get on this project irrespective of any opposition.
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