OKYC knocks Chevron on an all inclusive negotiations with host communities
The apex youth leadership in Oil rich Ogulagha Kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, operating under the auspices of Ogulagha Kingdom Youth Council, OKYC has called on the State Government and management of Chevron Nigeria Limited to include all host communities in Ogulagha, Gbaramatu and Egbema Kingdoms in its proposed meeting with the Ogborodo communities.
This was made known to newsmen in Warri yesterday via a statement personally signed by the President general of the Ogulagha Kingdom Youth Council, OKYC, Comr. Justice Timiadi Akuna, a copy of which was sent to The Liberator Newspaper.
Comr. Akuna had particularly warned Chevron Nigeria Limited not to take for granted its peaceful nature, adding that same problem faced by any host community from Chevron is same faced by others.
He had maintained that there is no need for Chevron to isolate other host communities in Delta while specially proposing to discuss solitarily with the Ogborodo community.
While thanking the Ogborodo people for their dogged stance in calling on the attention of the Government and management of Chevron to their plights, Timiadi had urged SPDC, NAOC and other companies operating in the Kingdom to be ready to experience the Ogborodo type of protest.
“As host communities, we have all suffered the same unjust treatment from Chevron Nigeria Limited so there is no need isolating some host communities for progressive negotiations without involving others who suffer same treatment. Ogulagha Kingdom which hosts a large chunk Chevrons offshore installations and operations has been marginalized by Chevron since the inception of its operations in our kingdom as we have been continuously deprived of employments and development efforts, sighting one excuse or the other.
“The continuous provision of the enabling environment for the uninterrupted operations of Chevron Nigeria Limited by the Ogulagha people and other Ijaw kingdoms of Egbema and Gbaramtu has always been in the interest of peace and the economic sustainability of our country Nigeria.
“He maintained that this will be the very perfect avenue for the people of three Ijaw Kingdoms to change the narrative on the table of negotiation.
“We want to thank the people of Ogborodo Community for their resilience in staging a peaceful protest, compelling Government and the management of Chevron to call for the negotiations,
“We therefore urge SPDC, NAOC and other oil giants who operate in Ogulagha kingdom at the expense of the wellbeing of their host Ogulagha kingdom to brace up for a replica of the Ogborodo type of protest.” The statement had asserted.
