(OML-25) have criticised Governor Nyesom Wike’s intervention in the dispute between them and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), on the shut-down of OML-25 oil platform.

Host communities to Oil Mining Lease (OML-25) have criticised Governor Nyesom Wike’s intervention in the dispute between them and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), on the shut-down of OML-25 oil platform.

The residents marched on the Government House in Port Harcourt yesterday. They came from Belema, Offoin-Ama and Ngeje communities in Kula Kingdom, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The women have been occupying the platform since August 2017 to stall all forms of operation following their ‘neglect’ by Shell.

The communities are also kicking against alleged plans by Shell to divest the platform, against their wish, to Belemaoil Producing limited, an indigenous oil firm, which is owned and operated by their son, Mr. Jack-Rich Tien.

The protesters accused Wike of working against the host communities, and passed a vote of no confidence in his purported dispute resolution moves.

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They carried placards with inscriptions like “We want peace”; “Rivers State government don’t cause crisis in Belema community”; “OML 25 is not under Rivers State Legislative List”; “OML 25 is before Federal Government for negotiation”;”40 years of SHELL, no employment, no water, no road”, among others.

The protesters chanted songs, insisting Shell must go, and the OML-25 flowstation be divested to their son.

Spokesman of the Kula Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers (KSCTR) Alabo Fiala Okoye-Davies, who addressed reporters earlier, accused SPDC of using political leaders, especially Chairman of Akuku-Toru council, to forcefully invade the community.

He said: “We hold the position that Shell has been using the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led chairman of Akuku-Toru council, Roland Sekibo, to forcefully invade our communities. Now his boss is the Secretary to the Rivers State government, and Shell has begun a new toll of partnership to invade our communities forcefully.

“We remain resolute, we remain united and committed to the dream of economic liberalisation, education of our youth, and emancipation from the shackles of a slave master who has destroyed our aquatic livelihoods with their oil pollution, and wanting to sell their assets and hand over to an unknown new slave master.

“We do not want Shell anymore on our land; we do not understand this renewed pressure and interest between Shell and Rivers State to forcefully invade our land. The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), other oil producing communities and the Federal Government should come to our aid.

“The Federal Government should know that Shell is now using the Rivers State government against its host communities it refused to develop for 40 years. Now it claims it has another 20 years renewal to enslave us for 40 years. We are saying no more Shell in our communities.”

The spokesman said the communities would also not attend any meeting convened by the government outside Belema community.

“We reject the change of meeting venue, and urge the government that subsequent meetings concerning the OML 25 issues be scheduled for Belema after a joint inspection of the host communities by the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Rrsources, NNPC, NAPIMS, SPDC, PANDEF, Rivers State government and host communities.”

Spokesman of PANDEF Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe said the organisation supports the processes adopted by the OML 25 host communities in the struggle for their rights. He maintained that the platform would continue to be occupied by the women until Shell gives up the facility, and threatened that if Shell insists on returning to Kula Kingdom, the Ijaw would be forced to shut down all its facilities across the Niger Delta.