Ndu Samuel

Renowned intellectual pressure group in Egbema kingdom, The Concerned Citizens for Egbema Kingdom (CCEK) has resolved to mediate in the cold war brewing between the Oil committee in charge of OML 40 and Belief -Gbene community with a view of bringing lasting solution to the imbroglio.

The resolution was reached when members of the group converged in Warri on Monday for a crucial meeting on the matter.

The Liberator Newspaper can report that the CCEK issued a press release which was signed by President of the group Comr. B.B.C Benjamin Ofiya after the Warri meeting calling on parties involved to shun every divisible tendencies capable of causing breach of peace, security and development in the volatile creek of the Niger Delta.

While explaining their reason for intervening in the matter, they said that it came to their knowledge that there is a very dreadful tension in the oil creeks of Olodua land where NPDC/ ELCREST operates, which needs an immediate and a critical attention and if not properly handled can breach peace and harmony which can result to insecurity and jeopardize the peoples hard earn resources.

Belief – Gbene community had recently through a press release published in some newspapers accused the Opuama and Opolobubo communities who constitutes members of Oil Committee for OML 40 of embezzlement of community funds and unjustifiable denial of her host right, omission and oppression metted on their community concerning the OML 40: dredging, drilling, pipeline installation and exploration job/process.

The Egbema group however, in their reaction urged ”Opuama and Polobubo federated communities (elders, leaders and youths) for posterity purpose and also for a lasting peace, justice, equity and for a sense of belonging; to speedily attend to the plight of the Belief-Gbene community before it gets out of hand and other communities that have the direct impact of the above job operations.”

While reacting to the claim by Belief – Gbene community that oil communities negotiated jobs for 62 acres at the rate of N4, 000,000 per acre but lied that it was 52 acres at the rate of N2, 500,000 per acre , CCEK said ” it is very unbearably and bitterly saddens our hearts that the oil committees are not fair to her people and which has been a problem for long and we are aware of this fraudulent act which has been on going amongst the oil committee executives polobubo precisely for the past two tenures and must be aborted by all means.”

They further berated the committee members saying that ” playing with the collective interest of the people is very bad and absolutely condemnable! We are not going to sweep it under carpet ” noting that ” this fraudulent act must be brought to justice for peace in our oil rich territories because we believe there is an atom of truth regarding the above claims of exposure which need a retreat.”

They said ” In leaving no doubt, we call on the oil committees led by Chief Johnbull Adaun and Mr Boro Ologun of Opuama and Polobubo communities respectively to tender the original documents of the negotiation for the dredging, drilling, pipeline installation and exploration job/process and environmental impact assessment (EIA) immediately to the communities for peace, unity, transparency and accountability. ”

They however pleaded on all citizens of Belief Gbene community to remain calm while they prevail on Polobubo and Opuama to do the needful.

” Even as we utterly condemn the very unbearable fraudulent act of the oil committees and warn them to tender the documents quickly; we wish to advice and call on the attention of Belief-Gbene community for the sake of peace; to please calm down as we implore Polobubo and Opuama communities for urgent intervention. ”

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