E. A Field: Trouble Looms As Iduwini National Body Issues 7 Days Ultimatum To SPDC In Bayelsa
By Rejoice Egbaseimokumor
Trouble seems to be brewing silently in Bayelsa State as the Apex Youth body in Iduwini Kingdom under the auspices of Iduwini National Youth Movement for Peace and Development has issued a 7 days Ultimatum to SPDC to address their demands or be ready to face imminent shutdown.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the duo of Loveday Omoli as President and Comr. Andrew Seikorowei, Secretary, a copy of which was sent to The Liberator Newspapers Worldwide earlier today.
The statement reads in full below:
LETTER OF PROTEST AND DEMAND FOR THE REMOVAL OF ALL NON INDIGENOUS CONTRACTORS IN THE E.A FIELD WITHIN 21 WORKING DAYS OR SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY SHOULD PREPARE TO FACE SHUTDOWN OF OPERATION IN THE FIELD.
Iduwini National Youth Movement for Peace and Development (INYMPD) the apex Youth body of the kingdom comprising Bayelsa and Delta states have threatened to shutdown SPDC activities and operations in the E.A field as the operators are not ready for any peaceful dialogue.
In a statement signed by Loveday Omoli president of INYMPD on Wednesday 14th of August 2024 in Yenagoa, said the apex youth body conducted it’s election sometimes December 2023 and same was communicated to SPDC with request for a round table discussion but reversed was the case, SPDC after receiving our letter dumped it and did not deem it fit to give it the necessary attention required.
According to Loveday, the said letter was sent via curie service on the 23rd of April 2024, despite receiving our letter, SPDC cares not to identify with us on the ground that, they are working with some persons who have made themselves enemies of Iduwini Kingdom. SPDC deliberately undermine the Youth body thinking it will be a game as usual however, we are asure you that, it will not be a game as usual because current executive members are not charlatans.
Our reasons and demands are very clear upon which we have intended to carry out this protest to shutdown E.A field if SPDC fail to comply within the time frame given.
- Remove all non indigenous contractors.
Since 2001 till date of Shell operations in the E.A, that is over 23 years of Shell operations in our domain, no indigenous contractor has worked with shell on major contracts, like Vessel supplies, AGO supply, Security supply,Food supply howsoever. Shell has been working with faceless non indigenous contractors. Worst of all these contractors have colluded with SPDC, and some community bad heads to undermine the overlords of the E.A field without any form of community engagement, negotiation or compensation. We declare total stop on this act within the time frame or else it will not be a game as usual. - Employment of Graduates, Skilled and Unskilled Workers.
We want the world to know today that, shell from it’s inception of operations in the E.A field intentionally, willingfully and wickedly refused to employ youths of their Host communities, to set the record straight, SPDC workers in E.A field are none indigenes, hereby we demand mass employment of our youths who are Graduates both skilled unskilled within the stipulated time.
- Shell Staffs and Contract Staffs.
We also demand that, SPDC with immediate effect employ our persons as staffs and engage our people as contract staffs too, Shell deliberate act is becoming unbearable as no single person from our kingdom is employed as staff or engaged as contract staff in the E A field and if SPDC has to employ our people as staffs or contract staffs they should without delay and furnish us the names or make open publication with all names of employees. - Engaging Youths On Entrepreneurship, Skill Acquisition Programs and Empowerment.
SPDC must as a matter of fact, take a critical look on this point although in passed, we remember how SPDC trained youths without empowerment that is without starter pack to enable the trained Youths starting from somewhere. A dormant skill is as good as dead skill, you don’t expect these Youths to be going about in the street with the name i have benefited from shell industrial training when there is no pragmatic evidence. Thus, we demand training of 100 Youths of each E.A Host communities inline with Chapter 3 of the PIA 2021 yearly. - Building of the King’s Palace in Amatu 1.
We finally call on National Petroleum Corporation NNPC, SPDC , Total E&P Nigeria Ltd, the ENI subsidiary Agip Oil Company Limited, Federal Government of Nigeria, Governor of Bayelsa State and NDDC who are major dealers and beneficiaries of the E.A field to quickly dive into action as to this very demand. If the former Governor of River state, now minister Federal Capital Territory Abuja ( Wike) can sensitively work with Traditional rulers with gifts of cars among other things, we see no reason why federal government, and other major agencies or corporate bodies will not take to heart a first class Royal Majesty who has been contributing over 25% to the Nigeria economy through your operation, the overlord of one of the largest oil Field in the world.
We are warning SPDC today to stop this act of disregard for our father, the Royal Majesty of Iduwini Kingdom and that, the next time they will Honour letter from one or any chief from Iduwini kingdom disregarding letters from the Royal Majesty on the same matter, we shall have no reason rather than to stage a peaceful protest thereby blocking and locking their gates for 7 days.
It is so disheartening that, we have been so marginalized by SPDC and this is the right time to put a total stop. As earlier said, this is not a game as usual.
To be forewarned is to before harmed.
Signed
Lovely Omoli
President Iduwini National Youth Movement For Peace and Development.
Comr. Andrew Seikorowei
Secretary Iduwini National Youth Movement for Peace and Development.
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