Youths of four local governments, Eket, Onna, Ibeno and Esit Eket, which are host communities to Mobil oil are gearing up for a showdown with the company if the federal and state governments fail to intervene in a brewing crisis between the group and company.
Saturday Vanguard investigations revealed a planned massive unrest that would “make the four councils ungovernable”, and would lead to seizure of flow stations and securing of onshore offices.
In an interview, Senior member of government joint labour/industrial relations and development committee, Chief Samingo EtukAkpan told Vanguard in Port Harcourt, Thursday, that “when the trouble starts the joint committee may not be able to arrest the situation”.
Samingo who was accompanied by members of the committee narrated his experience and other members in their arrest by military authorities and subsequent detention for 23 days in Eket, Calabar and Abuja between May and April 2006.
“Our committee is scheduled with the responsibility of negotiating with oil companies, job creation and contract award for the development and well-being of the host communities.
On account of this, the public affairs of Mobil called on members of the committee and reported about some youths that had seized a platform, at Edop offshore, owned by Saipen and demanding for immediate employment, in April last year.
Upon our intervention, the resistance of the youths was surmounted after, which we demanded for a helicopter to take us back to Eket, because it was strenuous, traveling for nearly two hours by boat on the first trip.
Rather than oblige us the helicopter, a naval ship ferried us to Qua Iboe Terminal, placed us under arrest and took us to Calabar where we were in handcuffs for three days. We were later taken to Calabar and flown to Abuja in company of the Cross River State Governor.
The inhuman treatment meted us, such as cuffing two men together, who are made to ease themselves, bath and sleep together, “is unacceptable and must be assuaged, After being released without charge and no apology from the oil company we are demanding that Mobil oil tender an unreserved apology to us.
In addition, we want the public affairs department to be overhauled. The department is meant to be headed by indigenes of the four host communists, but it is now occupied by someone from Uyo, and not an indigene of the host communities.
Also, expatriates employed to do jobs of cooks, cleaners, electricians, mechanics fitters and scaffolding, that are meant for Nigerians should be repatriated immediately. We gathered that they don’t even pay tax to the state and federal governments.
We are warning that if the federal, state and security agencies do not intervene and take the necessary steps, we would be forced to go on the streets, become restive such that no one can contain it”, Samingo said.