By Pleasure Onohwakpo
The recurring crisis that has engulfed the oil-rich Ugborodo Community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, has been blamed on the alleged failure of JAD Group of Companies to execute any meaningful development projects in the area for more than a decade.
It would be recalled that in 2008, JAD Group of Companies was appointed the sole contractor in charge of executing all jobs that emanate from the NNPC/ Chevron Joint Venture and SPDC as part of their corporate social responsibility towards the development of Ugborodo, the host community.
However, in a press release signed by the Chairman of Ugborodo Community Trust, Barrister Augustine Oborogbeyi on Sunday, May 21st, 2023, the community accused the JAD group and a handful of self-acclaimed agitators, of escalating the crisis in the area. According to the chairman, since 2008, when JAD was appointed as contractor on behalf of the community, it has been awarded several contracts but has nevertheless failed to carry out any meaningful development in the area.
He also accused the JAD Group of Companies of fanning the embers of violence in the area in order to divert attention from any probe of its fraudulent activities. He said the proceeds of contracts that were supposed to fund the development of the community have never been available for that purpose.
“Where are the hundreds of housing units for the Ugborodo New Town that Delta State Government contracted and budgeted Billions of Naira for? What of the Billion Naira shore protection Contract awarded to one of these agitators?
“As usual, the JAD Group is behind the current agitation which is a smoke screen to divert attention from several investigations on its fraudulent activities,” said the chairman.
Barister Oborogbeyi also blamed some sub-communities which while claiming a dubious autonomy, also allegedly connived with JAD to deny the Ugborodo Community their entitlements.
“All Communities in Warri Kingdom are autonomous administratively under the over-lordship of the Olu of Warri. The Supreme Court consent judgment in 1972 put an end to some Ugborodo people’ assertion of autonomy from Warri Kingdom.
“Ugborodo Community as an integral part of Warri Kingdom anchored the Palace Watch, (Ghigho – Aghofen) between 17th December 2022 and 27th April 2023 and His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse lll was in Ugborodo Community on 15th April 2023″, Oborogbeyi said.
Making further clarification, the chairman of the community Trust recalled that, “the PIA as stated by Perry Atete, is Community based, and that after the Setlors’ series of meetings with the stakeholders from the oil bearing Communities, which these characters participated in, the sub Communities of Ode-Ugborodo, Ogidigben, Ajudaibo, Madangho and Ijaghala submitted nominees for the PIA Board of Trustees which has since been registered.”
He said the Ugborodo Community is not the property of these agitators no matter how highly placed they may be, “including the persons in the positions of the Eghare-Aja and Olajori”.
According to him, ” these same persons have been frustrating the Ugborodo Community Trust Executive under his Chairmanship for no other reason than the fact that they could not be in charge of the affairs of Ugborodo Community as they were used to.” “Their modus operandi is propagating violence and frustration of the development of the Community,” he declared.
Oboroegbeyi also reprimanded those accusing the Community Trust under his leadership of insensitivity to the neglect of the community by JAD company, saying these agitators are only interested in defrauding the community and frustrating the efforts of the Ugborodo Community Trust to ensure that JAD remits all the entitlements due to the people from the contracts it has been collecting on behalf of the community since 2009.
“Can these people show us the benefits to Ugborodo Community on the execution of the Chevron multi billion Dollars EGTL Project”, the chairman asked.
Our correspondent’s checks show that there have been protests by a section of the Ugborodo youths who have occupied the Escravos Crude oil tank farm and loading terminal of Chevron.
The protests which were reported to have started one week ago have paralyzed all logistics and nsupplies to the facility.
