OML 40: IPDI Demands justice for Belief-Gbene, wants government to intervene
By Ndu Samuel
The leadership of Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative IPDI has thrown its weight behind the agitations of the Belief-Gbene community and called on government and all stakeholders to intervene to forestall breakdown of law and order.
The spokesperson of the group Mayor Timi Ogobiri made the disclosure shortly after an indoor meeting with leadership of the community on Friday.
He said that Belief-Gbene community in Warri North Local government Area of Delta State was among other host communities that made up OML40 in Egbema but regretted that the community has been segregated and sidelined over the years.
He maintained that irrespective of the size and affiliations with Polobobou and Opuama communities, Belief-Gbene remains an autonomous community, and must be given its rightful place in the scheme of things in Egbema Kingdom.
He confirmed that Belief-Gbene community had written several letters to the companies and other relevant authorities but they are yet to be considered as host community, a situation he described as injustice suffered for too long.
Ogobiri argued that if Northerners who do not produce a drop of oil could enjoy Niger Delta oil , there is absolutely no reason Belief-Gbene community should not be recognized in the oil operations of Warri North.
While calling on the leadership of Polobubou and Opuama communities particularly members of the oil committee to desist from further acts capable of causing uneasiness in the relatively tense creek of the Niger Delta, warned sternly against trivializing the agitations of Belief-Gbene community.
He called on the governor of Delta State Ifeanyi Okowa, Minister of state for Petroleum, Mr Timipre Silva, Delta State Commissioner of Oil and Gas, Prince Emma Amgbaduba and Senior Special Adviser to the governor on Security, Comrade Ezekiel Daniel, to immediately wade into the looming crisis to avoid breakdown of law and order that may affect the operations of the oil companies in the area.
