By Samuel Ogude
Hundreds of Ijaw women from various communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, on Monday, staged a peaceful protest, shutting down several oil flow stations operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited over what they described as the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement the final report on the Warri Federal Constituency ward and polling unit delineation, following a Supreme Court judgment.
Despite heavy rainfall, the women trooped to the facilities carrying placards with various inscriptions and singing solidarity songs as they demanded immediate implementation of the delineation report. Speaking at the Kenyangbene (Abiteye) Flow Station, Chief (Dr.) Marian Ebika said the protest became necessary due to INEC’s failure to act on the final report after completing the ward and polling unit delineation exercise in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling.
According to her, there is no justification for the continued delay in implementing the report. Her words: “We are the owners of the crude oil. Our communities produce the crude oil that sustains the nation, yet we continue to suffer in poverty despite the enormous resources in our land.”
Dr. Ebika emphasized that the women were pursuing their demands peacefully and warned against interpreting their calm disposition as weakness. She declared: “As you can see, we are not carrying guns or any form of weapon. We are here peacefully to demand our rights. We will not leave these flow stations until INEC implements the final report.”
Also speaking, Mrs. Fanty Goodness Owotorugei, an opinion leader from Benikrukru Community. She insisted that the women would maintain their occupation of the facilities until their demands were met. Her words: “It is a judgment that has already been delivered. Why is it difficult to implement the report? We will remain here until the necessary action is taken.”
The immediate past Secretary of Benikrukru Community, Dr. Paul Boyitie, argued that all three major ethnic nationalities in the constituency—the Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri—had participated in and benefited from the delineation exercise, making any further delay unnecessary. His words:” The Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri have all received their respective allocations through the delineation exercise. We do not understand why the report has not been implemented.”
Boyitie maintained that the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities constitute the majority population in Warri Federal Constituency and alleged that continued delay in implementing the report amounts to political marginalization.
He further disclosed that the protesters targeted Chevron facilities because petroleum production remains a major source of federal government’s revenue. His words: “We have the capacity to shut down both onshore and offshore operations if INEC continues to ignore the implementation of the report. We contribute significantly to the nation’s revenue and cannot continue to be marginalized.”
The protesters warned that the shutdown would continue until INEC implements the final delineation report. Flow stations affected by the protest include Odidi 1 and 2, Batan, Ogbanabou, Jones Creek, Otunana, Egwa 1 and 2, Abiteye, Makaraba, Olero Creek, Dibi Field and Opuekeba flow stations.
Industry sources estimate that the disruption may affect approximately 400,000 barrels of crude oil production per day. The protesters called on INEC to urgently implement the final report to ensure lasting peace and stability in the Warri Federal Constituency.