Visibly worried by the colossal damages people of Egbema in Ohaji/Egbema LGA of Imo State have incurred as a result of oil spillage and in view of the suffering of the people at the moment, former Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Mbama Okiro has opened up even as a group in the Oil producing area of the state, Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema Socio Economic Development Initiative, has also written to Governor Hope Uzodinma on the matter.
It would be recalled that what would have wiped away people of Obiakpu and surrounding Egbema communities occurred last week when an oil pipeline belonging to an oil company leaked leading to oil spillage and subsequent explosion that caused fire outbreak.
Trumpeta reporter who visited the area noticed monumental damages including destruction of the aquatic life and economic crops though no life was lost.
A disturbed Dr Okiro lamented the enormous damage the spillage and subsequent inferno has caused Obiakpu community and environment adding that oil companies in the area should be mindful of the well being of the host communities.
He regretted that the pipelines in use have over stayed and by composition poses serious danger to the people.
Dr Okiro urged the concerned oil company to take proper steps at making the inhabitants safe and undertake the necessary compensation formalities which will ameliorate the sufferings of the people.
The former IGP who is the Nationals Leader of the Oguta, Ohaji/Egbem Socio-Economic Development Initiative described the situation the people of Obiakpu Egbema found themselves as very pathetic regretting that inspite of the complaints launched at the secretariat of the SPDC in the area by his people, the company refused to take action to ensure the people affected by the oil spill were compensated.
Sir Okiro stated that his prompt presence at the scene of the oil spill was aimed at ensuring the youth of the area do not resort to taking laws into their hands, especially in attacking the facilities of the company in the area in retaliation of the damages caused by the oil spill. He noted that considering the bad situation of the country currently, any kind of protest by the youth of the area would not be considered appropriate. According to him, there would be need to engage both parties in a dialogue to ensure peaceful resolution.
He therefore reminded the state government and the SPDC the danger of allowing the youth to resorting to violence in during home their demands, especially where their means of livelihood, such as farmlands, fish ponds were excluded from them in the face of the oil spill. He further reminded the company of the Corporate Social Responsibility, (CSR), which he argued, has been denied the people since the existence of the company in the area as he urged the management of the company and government to urgently seek a way of appeasing the people to calm down while appealing to the people of the area to shealth their sword as he will ensure the right things were done.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema Socio Economic Initiative, Hon Walter Uzowanme frowned at the height of unfair treatment to oil communities by the SPDC by condemning the recent damage caused by the company’s operation in the area without the company indicating any interest towards compensating the people. He therefore called the Government and Oil company to waste no time in showing interest in arresting the negative effects of oil exploration and exploitation in the area.
In his own, Mr Francis Sunny Igwebuike, President of Ogbako Egbema who doubles as pioneer member of the initiative aligned himself with the national leader, Sir Mike Okiro as he charged the government and oil company to ensure responsiveness to the yearnings of the affected community in the oil producing area as he insisted that the people have no other means of livelihood, arguing that any damage to their source of livelihood and must be compensated hugely.
The National President of Egbema Forum as well as the legal Adviser to the group, Barr Isreal Onyeoyibo described the oil spill as most unfortunate noting that Shell Petroleum Company operating in the area has been negligent as well as woefully failed to undertake its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as stipulates by law since its presence in the area. He enjoined the company to do anything within its powers to ensure the people were compensate for their losses.
In their submission, the President General and Youth Leader, Obiakpu Autonomous Community, Chief Celestine Mbadiwe Onumba and Senior Comrade Okironkwo Emmanuel respectively, expressed sad over the insensivity of the company towards the plight of the oil community. They further expressed displeasure over the damages in their source of livelihood and urged SPDC to hearken to the demand of the leadership of the oil community headed by Sir Mike Okiro for a peaceful resolution or face the anger of the youth of the area within two weeks of the directive.
