Irri indigenes disrupt Oando oil Company's operation over alleged marginalisation

Indigenes of Irri community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State yesterday staged a peaceful protest against OANDO, an oil company operating in the area, accusing the company of neglect and marginalisation over the past eight years.

The protest which began early Monday morning brought about activities in the community and the firm's operations to a standstill.

The protesters bearing placards with inscriptions such as, "We Need Electricity", "We Need Employment", "Irri Need Gas Turbine", "Our Skills Acquisition Centre/Hospital Are Dormant", We Are Being Marginalised", "We Need Our Fair Share", "No single Project Since 2017", "We Need PIA Project", "We Upgrade of Our Indigenes Working In OANDO", "We Need Our Tennant Rate As Owners", "We Need Indigeneous Contractors", among others.

The angry protesters backed by the Traditional Council are calling for an end to what they describe as years of neglect by the by the Oil firm operating in the area.

Vanguard gathered that the protest was centred around years of neglect and none fulfilment of the GMOU which was earlier signed by NOAC before it was bought over by OANDO and according to them, OANDO has never listen to their agitations despite series of moves made by the community for negotiations. 

Speaking during the protest, President of Irri Development Union, Mr John Ozaveva Eweh said, "NOAC now OANDO have been operating in our community for many years and the community has been left behind.  We have written several letters, made series of requests, but to no avail. They are in our land working and exploiting our God- given resources without giving regard to our community were they operate. 

"They are hiding under the PIA to deny the community what is due and expected from them. For example, the PIA did not tell them not to respect our Odio-Ologbo. The PIA did not tell them not to respond to letters. Our request are written on the various placards and if our demands are not met, we will shut down all oil exploration activities in their community."

Odio Silas Efajamue,  an Odio in Council, who represented the Odio-ologbo of Irri, HRM Simon Wajutome Odhomo, Igbogidi I, said; "We need light, we have been crying for this light over the years that they have been operating here. The PIA act that was signed into law by the Federal Government,  the company has failed to adhere to it. We need our sons and daughters to be employ in the company. 

"Also we need the company to create Public Affairs Department here, we can't be running to Kwale just to submit letters and our request for the Public Affairs Department unit there. We need ours here so that we can be having out meetings with the company here without running to Kwale whenever the need arises. 

"Since OANDO took over this place, they have not pay a courtesy visit to His Majesty. So we don't know who is operating here, whether its AGIP or OANDO. By right, as OANDO took over, they suppose to pay a courtesy visit to the Odio-Ologbo Palace, but that they haven't done. 

"They have not follow what was written in the GMOU including the scholarship given 3years ago. Since 2017, till date, they are still owing us what was written in the GMOU we signed years ago."

In their separate interviews,  the Odio-Ologbo Palace Secretary,  Hon Efewomazino Okiroro Otuaga and Prince Olomu Chris Ewomazino, Landlord Chairman of the Community,  said, the protest was long overdue because the company operating in the area has neglected the community.

They stressed that; "It has been long that the company deviated from the GMOU which was signed since 2015 and the last project done by the company in the community was in 2017. And since then till date, nothing has been done. We have written several letters all to no avail. Hence we are protesting today." They added.

The protesters vowed to shut down all oil exploration activities in the community if their demands were not met, noting that as host community to OANDO an Oil Company operating in the area, they deserved better deal.