…Fixes meeting with both parties for Wed. March 2.
The Ifiekporo Community in Warri South Local Government Area, has suspended the two-day protest against eight oil tank farm companies operating in the area following the timely intervention of the Warri monarch, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III.
The Community, it was gathered, mobilized hundreds of youths, women and elders, to block the main route leading to the various Tank Farm companies, shutting down their operations in the process, as they prevented tankers from gaining entry to load products.
The New Diplomat learnt that the companies affected by the protest and shut down operations include: Matrix Energy, AYM Shaffa, Pinacle, Keonomax, Parker oil and Gas, Salbas oil and Gas and two others.
It was also gathered that the protest was triggered by the age-long anger of the Community against the oil companies over their alleged failure to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, that will specify their Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, to the host Communities, 15 years after they commenced business in the area.
However, two days after they commenced the blockade to the companies, the royal father of Warri kingdom, HRM Ogiame Atuwatse III, intervened and pleaded with the protesters to suspend the strike action, promising to invite the Tank Farms owners and representatives of the community for a meeting on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in his palace.
A palace source told The New Diplomat that the monarch’s “appeal was delivered to the community elders through Chief Eugene Ikomi and Mr. Esimaje Awani”, adding that the royal father commended the protesters for the peaceful manner they conducted themselves during the protest.
The source further confirmed that while responding to the monarch’s appeal, the “chairman of Ifiekporo Community Trust, Mr. Peter Ede said that they cannot be seen to be disobeying the royal father and therefore agreed to suspend the protest and remove the blockade.”
Ede was also quoted to have suggested that the delegation of the Community to the proposed monarch’s meeting should comprise of 9 persons, expressing optimism that the demands of the people, especially on request for an MoU with the companies will be addressed.
The chairman, The New Diplomat learnt, restated that the Community would not allow the companies to continue their operations in the area if they fail to sign an MoU on how they will carry out their corporate social responsibility for the people.
He said: “For these many years of operation on our land, our graduates and other employable men and women are only fit as cleaners and security guards while persons from other parts of country are engaged as top management staff with huge salary package.
“We cannot continue to be slaves in our home. This oppression, neglect, disrespect, bullying with government security agents must stop forthwith. If they want to kill us let them kill us but we cannot afford to take it anymore.”
