” The attention of the Rivers state Government has been drawn to a statement credited to Shell petroleum development Company entitled “Shell Secures wells in Ogoni”. In it the company claimed it has been directed by the Rivers state Government to resume its operations which has been halted in the Ogoni areas in the last 15 years.
We have had cause to study the said statement and we are shocked that SPDC in exercising great indiscretion in this matter would want to arrogate to the Rivers state government, a responsibility that fully falls within the purview of the Federal Government and the job schedule of the president and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces who has exclusive control over such oil exploration decisions.
At no time , did the Rivers state government direct SPDC to resume operations in Ogoniland. On the contrary, we have as a responsible and impartial government committed to the economic prosperity of the nation offered to assist in helping to assist in helping to end the disagreement between the company and the Ogoni people which have dragged for so long.
This cannot translate to a unilateral order to the SPDC on our part, and without reference to the Federal Government which oversees oil matters, to re-commence operations in Ogoniland, especially when areas of differences between the Ogoni people and the company have not been fully resolved.
As a government we are desirous to ensure that the Rovers State which is the leading oil producing state in Nigeria continues through its oil bearing communities to discharge its obligatory role of ensuring that all oil pipelines in the state and indeed the Niger delta region are kept open and flowing.
But our position remains that all stakeholders in the oil industry who are operating under
Nigeria’s evolving democracy, and on Rivers soil must learn to allow room for painstaking negotiations which are a function of broad-based and sincere talks that are designed to facilitate the resolution of conflicts which threaten the economic well being of our great country, Nigeria, and the peace and security either of our state or that of the region.
Ogbonna Nwuke,
Director of Press Affairs to the Governor of Rivers State.”