October 09, (THEWILL) – Scores of youths from Kou Community, traversing both Bayelsa and Delta States, had in a statement made available to journalists in Yenagoa, lamented over alleged marginalisation and oppression meted against the Kou Kingdom in Ekeremor Local Government area in Bayelsa state and Burutu Local government area of Delta state, by Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL.
In the statement signed by Kou Youth Development Front President, Ekemesowde Toraladi Peters said the double-dealing Standards by CNL have heightened tensions and agitations of concerned youths of the communities.
Peters further stressed that the law empowers CNL to carry out all its statutory and corporate social responsibilities to the host communities.
“Chevron should enter a unique GMoU with the Kou Communities, Employ the teeming youths, graduates and non-graduates, women empowerment programmes, scholarships, running contracts, vessel supply, royalties, compensation for riparian rights and loss of fishing rights, payment of outstanding reparation bills to Kou communities with or without the PIA bill.”
Peters called on the American ambassador/Consulate, Chevron Home Office, Chief Of Defence Staff, The JTF Boss in Niger Delta, The Director of State Security Service, Police AIG zone I6, Minister Of Petroleum of State for petroleum resources, traditional rulers, especially the Olu of Warri, who has an ancestral legal background and outspoken monarch, who visited President Buhari, on his mission to demand better future for Niger Delta, calling for the Infrastructure development of key federal Presence in the Niger Delta Region, that will benefit all ethnic nationalities and Nigeria at large.
Peters, who said they’re planning to embark on a mass protest, called on ex-militants who have accepted the federal government’s amnesty program to join them in the struggle against Chevron Nigeria Limited, as the law does not prohibit them to protest. “We are calling on our ex-militants and agitators in the Niger Delta, to join hands with us, to fight this injustice meted on by the multinational oil companies.”
Peters averred that Chevron, which its operation cuts across Peninnigton River, Dodo River, Ramos River Forcados Rivers, Escravos River, and Benin Rivers respectively on the continental shelf
“Meanwhile, Pennington River, 77 nautical miles, Dodo River, 88 nautical miles, Escravos River, 128 nautical miles on the shoreline and offshore clans benefitted from AGBANI fields, except Ramos clan Communities.”
He said Kou Youth Development Forum had engaged CNL, based on the submission of the federal ministry of Mines, Energy And Power, then, which is now Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission in the Judgement W/89/1971 that Chevron Terminal, Forcados Terminal And Peninighton Reports are in the Same Area Based on the Hydrographic reports on the tidal movement.
The Proposed protest threatens that the youths will shut down Chevron’s Head office in Lagos, Port-Harcourt, to Justify their demands If their demands are not met by the oil giant and government agencies, as “we cannot continue to stomach this injustice meted on our people by the Multinational Oil Companies.”
Peters also mentioned the meeting with CNL in April 2016, in which Gbaramatu Egbema and Ogulagha coastal communities front were in attendance saying that KOU Communities are not in Delta State, this development annoyed the KYDF to Write a Protest letter to the Managing Director of Chevron in Lagos, showing evidence of KOU Kingdom Landmass of the coastal part, in a Judgement W/67/1960. The CNL in response with a letter ref.no. NMA/PUB/CNL/LEK/060011, dated 16th June 2016, that Gbaramatu Egbema and Ogulagha Coastal front to recognise KYDF KOU Kingdom Communities In Delta State, but the CNL GMOU or MOU Signed With GEOCCF, Stated that no clause or articles are empowering the body to recognise other Clans with little stipends for the three clans.
CNL’s response to KYDF through DPR now NUPR admitted that their operations impacts on KOU kingdom, but their Operations are far away from the KOU kingdom 30km which is about 18nautical miles in a letter dated 14th of October 2015.
The aggrieved youths threatened that they will shut down Chevron’s Head Offices in Lagos, and Port-Harcourt to justify their demands if their demands are not urgently met by CNL and regulatory agencies of governments.
The KYDF also called on the federal boundary commission and Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to take note and Multinational Oil companies operating In KOU Delta offshore in the PIA for KOU Communities.
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