Mkpoikana Udoma 27 January 2018, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – An indigenous oil firm, Belemaoil Producing Limited, has described as fallacious and unfounded the allegations that the company was sponsoring crises in Ogoniland, Rivers State, over the planned resumption of oil exploration activity in the area.
Recall that the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, on several occasions have accused two oil firms, Belemaoil and RoboMichael Limited, of sponsoring groups in Ogoni to instigate crises and also plotting to assassinate its President, Mr. Lergborsi Pyagbara.
But the management of the oil firm described as unsubstantiated allegation by MOSOP that the company was sponsoring groups in Ogoniland to cause crisis in the area.
The Manager, Corporate Affairs/Legal Services of Belemaoil, Mr. Samuel Abel-Jumbo, said since the company started operation, it has never orchestrated any crisis in any community anywhere and has no intention or reason whatsoever to do such.
Abel-Jumbo explained that Belemaoil was a peaceful and well organized indigenous company with a track record of promoting peace and cohesion among communities, strenthening local economies of host communities and providing hope and support for the future of the communities.
Belemaoil stated that the allegation was a mere fallacy and unfounded, and should be disregarded.
“Belemaoil Producing Ltd, being an indigenous oil producing company in itself, cannot and will not be part of any plan, any intention to cause any crisis; we have never and we do not have any intention to cause any crisis in any community.
“We are a well organized oil producing company with our headquarters and operational base here in Rivers State and we cannot be here and sponsor any problem in the state.
“It is a mere fallacy, there is just no truth in it,” Jumbo said.
The Management of Belemaoil also said the company has not sponsored any group to attack the leadership of MOSOP.
Abel-Jumbo stated that Belemaoil was not desperate to take over the operation of OML-11 in Ogoniland, adding that the host communities also have a stake in deciding which company should resume oil production in the area.
He added the the company has changed the narrative in host communities-company relationship as well as transformed the lives of its host communities, and advised MOSOP to look inwards and see where to direct their concerns.
“Prior to this time in 2015/2016 we reached out to the oil bearing communities in Ogoniland and we sold our BELEMAOIL Model to them, our philosophy that guarantees host community direct participation and partnership in our operations; a philosophy that provides an opportunity for wealth creation within our host communities.
“The oil bearing communities in Ogoniland bought into our idea. Belemaoil is not new to Ogoniland. They saw the reason why they will prefer Belemaoil ahead of any other company for the divestment of OML-11. We never did it with any form of rancor at that time, so there is no reason why at this point in time we should then begin to sponsor groups. It is not a do-or-die affair.
“If the oil producing communities in Ogoniland want Belemaoil to come in and take over the operatorship of OML-11 they are the ones that will rise up and say so.
“The Nigerian government is aware of what we are doing in our current host communities, and how we have brought a new lease of life and hope to these communities by changing the narrative in Host Communities-Company relationship; how we have been able to transform and bring smiles to the lives of the communities where we operate.
“These are no mere wishes, they are factual; and other communities around are seeing this and we think it is good for the new consciousness and for the future of these oil bearing communities.”
