Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Kokodiagbene community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, has issued a warning to Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, accusing the multinational oil firm of colluding with the Itsekiri ethnic group in an alleged plot to fraudulently register the Utulala (also called Otunana) oil field under the Itsekiri-dominated A.M.U Host Communities Development Trust.
In a strongly worded protest letter addressed to Chevron’s top management in Lagos, Warri, and Escravos, Kokodiagbene community called on the oil giant to halt all processes related to the field’s registration at the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, warning that failure to do so could trigger a complete shutdown of Chevron’s operations in the area.
The letter signed by Comrade Ark Selegha (Chairman) and Gabriel Ukuli (General Secretary), alleged that Chevron is backing a move to include the Utulala field, erroneously renamed “Otunana” as part of the Abiteye, Makaraba, and Utonana Host Communities Development Trust, A.M.U-HCDT, thereby favoring the Itsekiri communities at the expense of the rightful owners.
“This serves as a last warning against CNL to desist from its old strategy of adopting divide-and-rule tactics by instigating ethnic conflict. We warn again, that we will not condone this evil act which will no longer be tolerated, to avoid a total shutdown of Chevron operations in the area.
“It will interest CNL’s management and the general public to know that Kokodiagbene Community is the rightful owner of Utulala, now being referred to as Otunana flowstation, situated in the community, less than 5km from the main town,” the petition read.
Kokodiagbene leaders said the community was deliberately excluded from the CAC registration process of the trust fund, accusing Chevron of working with “some top Itsekiri management staff” in the company to cement a false narrative of ownership.
“It is imperative to send this warning and caution against any purported attempt by CNL, to register the flowstation in an attempt to buttress their fraudulent fictitious claim,” the letter stated.
The protest marks a renewed flare-up in longstanding tensions between the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups over the control and benefits of oil-producing assets in Delta State.
Chevron has often found itself in the middle of disputes over land ownership, host community rights, and the distribution of corporate social responsibility projects in the area.
Kokodiagbene also accused Chevron of repeating its “divide-and-rule” strategy to secure operational advantage, alleging that the company has a history of instigating inter-ethnic conflict to manipulate employment and project allocations.
“Chevron must stop using conflict as a cover to employ and deploy their kinsmen from outside our areas of operation,” the community said.
The community concluded by demanding an immediate halt to all registration processes relating to the field under the current configuration.
“We therefore ask that Chevron stops forthwith with any further registration process as it concerns Otunana (Utulala) field. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.”
Chevron Nigeria Limited has not yet responded publicly to the protest at the time of filing this report.
