By Ebi Perekeme
Barely 24 hours after Odidi community gave Neconde Energy Limited 48 hours to vacate OML 42, another community has again decried negligence, insisting that the company should leave the facility.
Kantu community is one of the chief hosts of the OML 42 oil facilities, Odidi flow stations, in particular, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
A press statement signed by Mr. Ejele Fuludu – Chairman; Ama Eyiangho – Vice Chairman; Hon. Welfare Timinimi, Secretary; Comrade Mark Etoromi, PRO, Hon. Thomas Emami, Financial Secretary; David Adidi, Auditor; Moses Edema, Treasurer and others on behalf of the Kantu Youth Council in Gbaramatu kingdom, the leaders stated that, “The operators of these facilities have completely neglected these host communities by shortchanging the benefits pre-supposed for the host communities ranging from managerial positions to common labour slots (employment) contracts and community development, right from the inception of oil exploration till date and became worst since Obi Jackson Group of Companies took over the operations of these facilities. In which we have nothing to write home about.”
ALSO READ: Odidi community gives Neconde 48 hours to vacate OML 42
The Kantu Youths’ Council and her executives resolved that, “It has become imperative that Obi Jackson Group of Companies (including NECONDE, NESTOIL, IMPaC, White Dove, Hammacorp, B&G Dredging e.t.c), operating from OML 42 Oil field should evacuate site with immediate effect from this day 17th of June 2020 before we unleash our anger.
“As every effort suing for dialogue and peace has failed several times, even with the intervention of the Delta State Government and other Government Security Agencies were also upturned.
“The aforementioned companies operating within this OML 42 were given a 14-day ultimatum issued on Obi Jackson Group of Companies and her subsidiaries by the Host Communities of OML 42.
“These said ultimatum have elapsed without any call from the said companies to dialogue on any way forward as the communities interests does not matter rather continued intimidation on host communities in an attempt to stage a peaceful protest(s).
“The barging operations are being carried out without any environmental protection measures put in place by the extant laws of the land, killing marine lives and complete depletion of the ecosystem.
“We can no longer continue to remain docile over this deliberate, conscious and cruel neglects as it imposes untold hardship on the riveriners whose primary occupation is fishing.
“This is a deliberate oppression and suppression in the face of justice fairness and equity and it is a crime against humanity.
“According to Martin Luther King Jr “our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”. We have our fate in our hands, therefore we are not going back on our stand,” it added
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