29 March 2013, Lagos – Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, says it does not interfere in the process of selection of leaders in its host communities.
The company’s general manager in charge of policy, government and public affairs, Mr. Deji Haastrup, said in a statement that though Chevron has a strong partnership with its host communities, it does not interfere in their internal process for the selection of their leaders.
“Chevron has a strong partnership with communities in the areas of its operations. We support their aspirations and respect the communities’ traditions.
“We do not interfere in their internal processes for selecting their leaders and representatives or in their internal affairs,” the statement read.
According to Haastrup, the clarification became necessary because of reports, which alleges that Chevron officials were interfering in the election of representatives for the Egbema-Gbaramatu Central Development Committee, EGCDC.
He maintained that EGCDC is one of eight regional community development organisations (Regional Development Committees) established under the Chevron-pioneered participatory community engagement model, known as the Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU.
He stated that in keeping with the principles of the GMoU and in line with Chevron policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of communities, “elections into these Regional Development Committees are entirely the affairs of the communities concerned”.
