By Cynthia Eruoto
The Oil rich Ugborodo Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State have staged a protest against Chevron Nigeria Limited as they condemned the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA insisting that, the oil giant company must dialogue with them as regards PIA.
The Community led by the Eghare-Aja of the Ugborodo, Mr. Daniel Uwawah made their position known in a protest recently. The peaceful protesters who are from Ode-Ugborodo, Ogidigben, Ajudaibo, Madangho and Ijaghala Communities under Ugborodo Federated Communities besieged Chevron yard within their domain.
The protesters who carried placards with different inscriptions: “We want our PIA as Host Communities. Ugborodo”,”All Local Content Contracts must be brought to the Community through the appointed organ”,”Enough of Chevron divide and rule policies” among others, said they would not accept this cheating from Chevron Nigeria Limited.
According to them, they need frequent and regular engagement with Chevron just as they said, the multinational company must fix the water and the light before they can proceed with their operation. They added that, they can not be cowed by Chevron’s intimidation. The Community said, they lack portable water, light, hospital and school just as they said their people especially, the youths are unemployed, they don’t have empowerment for the women of Ugborodo Community among others.
They said:” Chevron, stop intimidating us!”,”Chevron give us employment”, “Chevron,we need light, “Chevron,we don’t have good relationship with you ,”Chevron must go” and “Chevron you are a wicked company.”
Speaking on matter, The Igbajoh of Ugborodo Community, Prince Terry Atete who spoke on behalf of Eghare-Aja, Daniel Uwawah, said, they have written several letters to the International Oil Company (IOC) for dialogue as regards the PIA Act but the company has paid deaf ears.
He said since inception of the Eghare-Aja, Ugborodo Community had written to Chevron on the PIA as regards the award of contracts and employment but the company has deliberately refused to listen to the voice of reason saying, Ugborodo is an autonomous Community.
Prince Atete said,”We are not under anybody. We operate on our own and as such, the issue of the PIA as stated that the IOC should discuss with us directly, the host communities. But up till now, the IOC has refused to answer us”.
Prince Atete said Ugborodo Community decided to go on the peaceful protest to press home their demands.
He said:”Look at our communities, look at everywhere, a community flowing with so much wealth. You’re exploiting our land. We are just saying give us little. You say No. We are not going to take it. Look at the shore, the community is almost eroded away. Nothing. No employment. No job. We are not going to take it. We are not afraid. The community will let them know soon that a mighty wind shall blow and a heavy rain shall fall and things will not be the same again “.
On her part, the woman leader of Ugborodo Community, Oritsematosan Nuko who corroborated the claims of the Eghare-Aja appealed to Checron and the Federal Government to come to the rescue of Ugborodo Community and shore up the area. She said, the indigenes of the Community are almost being chased away by the tidal flood saying, Chevron knows their plights calling on them to rescue them.
She said:” There’s no work for our children. No employment, no business, no contracts. We are just managing ourselves.. For now, there’s nothing. The light in this place is not stable and there’s no water. We used to buy water, 25 litres is N100. 00. Chevron is our tenant but they are not treating us well.”