Markets, Shops Close, As Oleh Women Protest Illegality of OML 30 CDC *Gives Heritage Oil 7 Days To Respond

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–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Michael J. EKOKORUWE:

MARKETS, shops and other economic activities were crippled, as women of Oleh Community, Isoko South local government area staged a peaceful protest over illigality of appointed Community Development Committee by HRM Anthony William Ovrawah, Omogha 1, the Odiologbo of Oleh Kingdom.

The women while chanting songs of neglect, deprivation and frustration, matched round Oleh metropolis and displayed placards with various inscriptions as “Say No to iligal CDC”, “All administration must be carried out by OCDU only”, “Stop CDC divide and rule”, and Odiologbo must end CDC Now”.

The protesters condernmed the undemocratic altitude of some Community leaders, who according to them, selfishly enriched themselves to the detriment of the Community and vowed to resist further underdevelopment of the area from OML 30 cluster 5 Management Committee project adminstration funds accruing to Oleh community.

While submitting their grievances at the local government council Secretariat and logistics office of Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited Oleh, Mrs. Juliana Itewor, women leader of Oleh Community, demanded for an end to appointed Community Development Committee administration of funds accrued to Oleh community from OML 30 cluster 5 management Committee Project adminstration funds.

The women leader noted that the community is divided with hatred and sentiments, which according to her, has resulted into hunger and tension in the community.

She called on government to prevail on Community leaders that sold portion of Oleh Community land to herdsmen and reclaim the land back as it has led to insessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the area.

Also speaking, Chief Comrade Believe Alakri, President General Oleh Community said, the GMoU of the community with Heritage Oil Firm was wrongly signed by appointed chairman of Community Development Committee instead of the President General of Oleh Kingdom.

Alakri noted that it’s only the President General and three other representatives of Communities under OML 30 Community Development Board that are accredited to represent communities and urged Heritage oil company to stop causing problem in Oleh Community.

The president general maintained that appointed CDC is not known to OML 30 Community Development Board, adding that series of letters have been written to Heritage oil Firm to stop dealing with members of the appointed Committee, but the company still recognized them.

Alakri warned that further activities by Heritage oil company with the purported Community Development Committee, will lead to shut down of Oleh / Olomoro flow station and gave seven (7) days ultimatum to respond to the community request.

“Today is warning Protest and we don’t want anything that will jeopardize the operation of the oil company in the community. We don’t want chaos because if anything happens the company will be held responsible”. he said.

He added that the 2020 Christmas rice brought to Oleh Community were confiscated by the appointed Community Development Committee, and urged the department of the company responsible to release the items to Oleh Community.

Responding, the secretary to the local government council, Hon. Vantus Ogboghro assured the protesters of conveying the message to the Chairman of the local government area, Hon. Victor Asasa, just as Mr. John Akareyi and Mr. Uge Akecheye, of Department of State Security Services to Heritage oil company, promised to pass the message to the head of Heritage oil firm for immediate response..