Why we shut down Chevron’s Otunana flow station – Mulade

By Shina Badmus

Chevron Nigeria Limited has attracted the wrath of the people of Kokodiagbene community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, over what they described as aged-long neglect of the community by the company.

They expressed disaffection in the hand of Chevron this morning, May 22, 2019, by taking to protest at the company’s Otunana flow station premises, which has led to shutting the flow station down.

The GbaramatuVoice can authoritatively report that the protesters consisted of women and youths demanded that the company should provide them with electricity, drinkable water, and hospital.

They also highlighted that the company had neglected so much in job provision and other basic infrastructural amenities not minding that they are the host community of the company for decades.

Spotted amongst the protesters was a Niger Delta activist, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, who is from Kokodiagbene community.

He was not happy that Chevron had shown his community abrupt neglect in the areas of electricity, hospital, drinkable water and job provisions.

He therefore called on the Nigerian authorities to hold Chevron responsible for the upheavals the community had faced over the years.

As a Peace Ambassador, Mulade used the occasion to appeal to the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to call Chevron to curtail its unconcerned manners in the way it has been handling the community.

“The host communities have lost confidence in the IOCs in the discharge of its Corporate Social Responsibilities, and government has failed to give a sense of belonging to the host communities, especially to Kokodiagbene,” he lamented.

Also speaking to GbaramatuVoice, the  General Secretary of the community,  Comrade Jackson Timiyan, said, “Chevron Nigeria Limited has been operating in the area for over forty years with nothing tangible on ground to show as commitment to the host communities. This has to stop. It is a peaceful protest and we will not stop until Chevron does the right thing by attending to our needs.”

Our reporter saw the protesters chanting different songs and holding placards.