Festus Ahon
22 April 2012, Sweetcrude, UGHELLI – PEEVED by the seeming neglect of its host, the Odiologbo of Irri Kingdom, Isoko South Local Government area, Delta State HRM Oviese Eba Ojenuwe II, weekend led a peaceful protest against the Nigerian Agip Oil Company accusing the company of sidelining his people in the scheme of things.
The entrance gate to Agip in the area was barricaded with a shrine and other fetish objects in the protest, which was carried out at about 6am in the early hours of Saturday.
Accompanied by the community juju priest who performed several rituals at the gate with a life fowl, palace Chiefs and chairman Mr. Mike Odhigbo of the Irri Development Union and a host of others, the monarch decried the Company’s refusal to renew the 2008 Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with the community, that has since expired.
The traditional ruler, who spoke through the Palace Secretary, Chief Gabriel Abighe said they were also aggrieved over the non employment of the qualified indigenes of the community in the services of the company, demanding for the employment of at least six of the community indigenes by the company.
Other demands according to the Abighe include; “the immediate release of contract agreement papers awarded to Oghokpos Resources Nigeria Limited, soundproof plant with regular diesel supply, and a running contract to the palace chiefs for office keeping.”
Frowning at the removal of electricity project from the request sent in by the community to the company, he said the community “is also demanding a non negotiable sum of N10 Million with a cow for cleansing of the land as penalty for allowing the Monarch to leave the Palace to the bush.”
