By Shina Badmus
Residents of Kokodiagbene community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, has shut down Chevron’s Otunana flow station early this morning, May 22 2019.
They demanded among other things that electricity should be extended from the flow station to the community, as well as drinkable water, and hospital should be built.
A Niger Delta activist, Comrade Sheriff Mulade called on the American oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited, to immediately meet the aged-long demands by Kokodiagbene, which has been hosting CNL for over 40 years.
Mulade, who is from Kokodiagbene community, expressed apprehension at IOCs’ activities particularly Chevron, delaying supply of electricity from their stations that were few metres or kilometers away from their host communities in the Niger Delta.
He registered his crusade to the Federal and State Governments, stating that multi-national oil companies operating in the area, were the root causes of unrest in the oil rich region.
Mulade, who is a renowned Peace Ambassador, appealed to Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to prevail on Chevron to do the needful to avert breakdown of law and order in the riverine oil host towns supposedly neglected by the Federal and State Governments, in spite their immense contributions to the economy of the state.
“The host communities have lost confidence in the IOCs in the discharge of their Corporate Social Responsibilities, and government has failed to give a sense of belonging to the host communities, especially to Kokodiagbene,” he lamented.
Mulade added that the lackadaisical approach by oil firms in the area to fulfill their promises to the people, had resulted to different crises in the Niger Delta.He however tasked the oil firms to change their unconcerned attitude and show positivity to their respective host communities, to ensure sustainable peace and development in the oil rich region.
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