Ijaw group decries Chevron’s neglect

The group particularly decried the non-challant attitude of the American oil giant to five major Ijaw communities in Gbaranmatoru kingdom of Warri South-west local government area of Delta State for its over 40 years of operations.

In a statement made available to Vanguard in Yenagoa, the group noted with sadness the refusal of the company to honour the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) it freely entered into with its host communities in the Gbaranmatoru kingdom.

In a statement signed by Olotu Koremene Festus, Ubebe Felix, Chief Johnny Moscow and Tinubo Thompson, President, Public Relations Officer, Head of Strategies and Mobilization and Publicity Secretary respectively, the group recalled that in 2001 when the people of the communities including elders, men and women embarked on peaceful protest over the non implementation of the GMoU at the company base in Warri, its management ordered the military men on guard to shoot at them killing 22 persons living14 others seriously injured.

It added that but for the timely intervention of Chief Ekpomupolo Government who appealed to the people that Chevron will meet their demands that calmed frayed nerves the situation would have deteriorated into open conflict between the communities and the company.

Some of the demands in the GMoU according to the statement include the provision of employment for indigenes and provision of social amenities for the communities.

�This is injustice to the people of Ijaw in the Niger Delta. We the Ijaw will not compromise the under-development of Ijawland,� it stated.
The statement further urged Chevron to fulfill the communities demand as outlined in the GMoU in order to ensure a radical change and better understanding.

While calling on President Olusegun Obasanjo and other well meaning Nigerians to prevail on the company to honour the agreement it entered with her host communities to ensure the sustenance of peace in the ever fragile Warri enclave, it prayed that the current problems facing the Anglo-Dutch oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in the area should not happen to the American company.