The youths of Assa community and Women numbering thousands barricaded Assa oil base gas plant location in Assa Ohaji in Ohaji/Egbema LGA yesterday protesting against what they described as marginalization of the people by the oil producing companies operating in the area.
Leading the group that involved youths, Women and elders of the community Comrade Chinonye Emmanuel Ugorji who double as President of National Congress of Ohaji Youths NACOY, said the community of Assa had regretted given their lands to SEPLAT, Shell, Lee, and other oil and gas operating companies in the Area.
He described the companies as greed and dubious and callous firms who has chose to create crisis amongst the host communities in other to achieve their selfish interest and get away with whatsoever they may want to do.
He stressed further that the companies up till now had bluntly refused to implement agreed infrastructural development and other social infrastructures MOU that will boost high degree development into the communities Assa and other sister communities of Awarra.
According to him, the is community demanding that the companies should be serious and ready to rewriting the MOU between the host communities and the oil firms, or face quit.
The president stated this in front gate of the oil companies during the protest in the base site Assa Ohaji.
The group demonstrated their grievances in anger and were very peaceful as at the moment of protest but were letting the some of the staff who resumed work that morning hour of the protest not do anything until an answers are given to their demands.
Meanwhile, some staff who came to work in their great numbers quick started jumping into their staff buses to return back to their head office where they came from to avoid any unleash.
The company base CLO who refused his name in print to news men made an attempt to engage the protesting group in a close door discussion later changed his mind and decided to quit the environment after hours attempt to calm them down but to no avail.
Some of the Youths were shouting we no go gree o, we no go gree. While the women and elders were angrily laying causes on the company for using their lands without any thing done or jobs given to their children who are graduate.
They accused the companies of high marginalization and giving employment to strangers abandoning their children.
He told Journalists that the duties within the period he would serve as a youth leader in the Area will thrive development and attract government and multi- national companies interest to bring total change.
He maintained that until the recent MOU had between the hosting communities and the oil producing firms in the Area concerning the Assa Ohaji Gas-Plant is complied to that the company would be allowed to operate freely.
He ordered them to come down to the communities and either rewrite the MOU to suit the people’s desire for their operations or give way to the sight.
The pressure group stated that gone are the days when oil companies would come to deceive their people and tap away their mineral resources without any thing done for his people and go score free.
He added that politicians should stop be warned from using their youth on thuggery and that any politician found culpable of doing that, will surely be exposed and disgraced.
Meanwhile, told youths of the Area to stay away from serving politicians inordinately or been enslaved as thugs by politicians.
He called them to prepare for getting jobs to do in oil companies operating in the Area especially those of them that has handiworks while those without handiworks to go and learn to be part of greater opportunities tomorrow in the Area.
The president assured all youths ample opportunities to in his administration with the team of the 7th executive members of the Association.
According to him, “today nobody or groups will enslave our people anymore and got score free”. “We will no more condone this again”. “Therefore, politicians must be dealt if they continue to come to seek for such.
“No more vices in Ohaji and nobody will be allowed to do it again”.
The occasion was filled with prominent sons and daughters of Ohaji especially, Chief Esom Obodo, Hon. Henry Admelechi, Chief Stephen Lemachi, Chief Ferdinand Amanze and Prince Rollyins Ohagwam who were Awardees and some traditional rulers and CEOs of various companies who are sons of Ohaji.
