OML 42: Odidi community alleges fraud

By Badmus Shina

Odidi community, hosting OML 42 in Warri South West Local Government Area in Delta State has furiously kicked against the NPDC/Neconde Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) process holding in Lagos. 

During a press briefing with GbaramatuVoice, the financial secretary of Odidi, High Chief Lawrence Okrikpa who represented the community chairman, Chief Johnny Aribogha hinted that the GMoU process was a scam and the community drastically kicks against it.

On side of the community, Okrikpa said NPDC/Neconde in OML 42 has been marginalizing them since 2012 as there were pending payments to be made to the community.

He added that no scholarship; community project, human capital payment, financial aids have been given to the communities. He continued that there are no skill acquisition centers for the youths, no training and no employment since inception of the company in 2012.

According to him, “We totally condemn the GMoU meeting in Lagos which is going on now. Pending payment, peace bonuses, employment, and scholarships since 2012, none has been paid. Contractors for 2-3 years have not been paid, no contract for indigenous contractors.

“We are calling on the Federal Government, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Honorable  Prince Angaduba, who came to make peace about four months ago, agreed that within 3-months that they are going to pay everything (to latter.) 

“But unfortunately it elapsed on the 19th of Nov. and no money was paid. They went into another agreement again to pay every incentive by 28th of November and today is 2nd of Dec.

“Why not pay all the monies before going for  the GMoU. What is the impact of that GMoU that it will develop the Odidi community, the Jones Creek and the Batan.

“We are calling on our daddy, President Muhammed Buahri that OML 42, we are dying; no medical assistant, no hospital, no water to drink, no school, no infrastructural development.”

He pointed out that the community is peace loving even before NPDC took over from SPDC. But that they haven’t been getting fair treatment from NPDC.

He asserted that if the GMoU is to be signed, it should be brought before the community in  a round table discussion and not done elsewhere with few persons as if to hide the process from them.