- To Take Position On Owah-Abbi Autonomy, Partners Groups With Genuine Devt Interest
BY SAM DUVWODE
DELTA State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme has cautioned communities not to lay ownership claims to any autonomous community in any part of the state.
Sir Onyeme gave the warning, yesterday, in his office in Asaba when he received on courtesy call, leaders from Owah-Abbi community, in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.
Sir Onyeme , who expressed government’s dismay over any breach of peace in the state, warned that the state government will not tolerate crisis in any community.
The deputy governor, while addressing the leaders of Owah-Abbi over the issue of autonomy, assured that the state government will look into the documents presented and take a position on it.
According to him: “On the autonomy of Owah-Abbi, which is the main reason for this visit, we will study your documents and liaise with the relevant government agencies and come out with a position.
“Government will look into the issues and take a position officially and when that is done, it will be clear that anybody that goes contrary to the position which tends to cause crisis will be held responsible. It will not be wise for leaders to begin to lay claim to other leaders’ positions because nobody is a lesser human being than the other, nobody is a slave to the other”.
“As a government, we will not see a crisis in any community and keep quiet. As communities in Delta State, we must manage ourselves and continue to remain peaceful.
“The community is our own, all of us are Ukwuani people and will not see a crisis in our community and just keep quiet. As Ndokwa people and as Ukwaini people, we must manage ourselves so that we will continue to remain peaceful as one united people”. “It is very unfortunate that the Nigeria society is turning into a different thing.
People who probably have means can just wake up and control the Nigeria police to go and arrest people and the police will go and start arresting people without proper investigation. I don’t know where we are going in this country”.
The deputy governor, who expressed dismay over conflicts and crisis usually caused by the discovery of oil in communities said: “Let every community manage its own resources and we should also be educating ourselves. How much are we getting from this oil that is always causing us so much pain and problem? When a community sometimes will not even get up to N 5 million and yet there is so much war involved in it by communities”.
“We should be educating our people that Oil should not begin to cause a crisis because of the peanut oil. Communities should learn to educate their youths, the money from the oil is nothing compared to the human lives. Those that are collecting the large chunk of money are somewhere else and we are here fighting ourselves in the community”.
Earlier, Chief Imala Odufu, who led the delegation of leaders said that their visit was to appeal for government intervention in the activities going on in their community, saying if not addressed will lead to serious disruption in the near future.
Chief Imala said that Owah-Abbi has been a peaceful and peace-loving community until the scenario changed recently due to the destructive menace of their community farmlands across River Ethiope by Fulani herdsmen.
He also noted that the discovery of oil in the community farmlands across River Ethiope and the threat of the Ukwata of Umukwata Kingdom, a neighbouring community, has continued to become a source of worry.
Chief Imala noted that the different type of threat from the Ukwata of Umukwata Kingdom has become a major cause of concern, saying that the Ukwata has initiated his modus operandi of making false allegations and arresting prominent community members and intimidating them
…To Partner Organizations With Genuine Devt Interest
Meanwhile, Sir Monday Onyeme has assured the commitment of the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori led administration to partner with private organizations that are genuinely interested in making meaningful contributions to the development of the state.
Sir Onyeme made the remarks, yesterday, during a meeting held with management of Mecco and Marine Holdings Nig LTD in his office, Government House, Asaba.
The Deputy Governor noted that when private organizations contribute to the development of communities, there will be peace, which will also reduce the developmental burden of the communities on the state government.
According to him: “we are happy to have you here today. The Oborevwori administration is willing to give all the necessary support for you to be able to carry out your assignment. Because, from all indications it is we that are the primary beneficiary of your assignment.
“If through your work, all the host communities to the oil companies operating within the state get rightly what is due to them, of course, you would have helped the communities and you would have also helped the state. “When the communities are at peace, when the communities are getting projects that bring about the development of the communities, of course, it is reducing the developmental burden on the state. “This will bring the desired peace in the state. So, everything you are going to do concerning your assignment, the government will give you the necessary support because it is for our own interest. “However, as a government, we urge you to go ahead and start this work in earnest and let us know what you want to accomplish so that we can follow up. You should also give us documentation as to what you are doing before we come in,” Sir Onyeme stated.
Earlier, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Mecco and Marine Holdings Nig LTD, Chief George Bucknor said the visit was informed by the need to support the host communities producing oil and gas and also to enhance the sustainable development of the state regarding their usurped rights and benefits. Chief Bucknor said the mission of Mecco and Marine Holdings Nig Ltd was to ensure that host communities enjoy direct social and economic benefits of petroleum operations , ensuring effective implementation of the submission of the Need Assessment Plan within the timelines prescribed for the same in the applicable laws.
