Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Kula Kingdom, host to Belema Flow Station and Gas Plant in OML25, has urged the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, to ensure a speedy conclusion of the ongoing discussion in respect to re-entry of Oil Mining Lease 25.
Recall that on the 17th of September, 2019, the Federal Government resolved the over 34months shut down of OML25 by the host communities, following alleged underdevelopment and neglect of the host communities by SPDC.
The intervention of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, and the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, led to the removal of traditional injunctions installed at the Belema Flow Station and Gas Plant by the host communities, and hoisting of flags to usher in a new beginning.
But stakeholders in Kula Kingdom, Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, who made the call, are also accusing SPDC of deploying several antics to delay and frustrate the process of reopening of the facility.
Spokesperson of Kula Council of Chiefs and OML25 communities, Fiala Okoye-Davies, while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt, said SPDC should desist from aligning with some people, who according to him, are renegades from the community.
Okoye-Davies also called on the Federal Government and security agencies to prevail on the Dutch multinational not to throw the OML25 communities into another round of crisis.
“We are also aware that the trio of NNPC, SPDC and BPL have had several meetings in a bid to resolve the issues that resulted to the face off between SPDC and it’s host communities.
“It is interesting to note that while our position regarding our confidence in the Federal Government to resolve the issues remains sacrosanct, we are minded to earn against various antics of SPDC to cause confusion again in our peaceful Kula kingdom.
“We call on the Federal Government and security agencies to prevail on SPDC to desist from whatever alliance with some renegades of the Kula kingdom and ensure a conclusion of the ongoing discussion with the Federal Government and Belemaoil on behalf of the communities for the re-entry of OML25.”
The stakeholders also commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for his support for the development of Kula Kingdom, as well as the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, for his understanding and cooperation.
