After an eleven-day marathon peaceful protest mounted against Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), the people of Ugborodo community on Wednesday suspended their protest on the company’s operations.
Announcing the decision to suspend the protest in a statement, the Director of Strategic Communication of the protest and executive member of the Ugborodo Community Management Committee (UCMC), Mr Alex Eyengho, said the company had agreed to some of the demands, while others would be attended to during ongoing discussions.
The people of Ugborodo community in Warri South-West council area of Delta state had embarked on an indefinite protest march against the oil multinational over a number of alleged infidelity on the part of the company, against the interest of the community.
The protesters had mounted camps around the premises of Chevron’s Escravos facilities, which are reportedly located on Ugborodo lands, they took the protest to the Warri corporate offices of the company on Tuesday, barricade accesses.
According to the statement, the community said “the meeting which went on into late evening could not address all the demands and issues raised due to time. Ugborodo demands 3, 4, 5 and 8 have been treated but not completely to our satisfaction. However, we believe that the meeting with top Federal Government functionaries proposed for Abuja next week will afford us the opportunity to treat the issues/demands well. Chevron seems to be hiding under the Public Procurement Act to run away from most of the demands.
“On demand number 3, Chevron agreed to address it with a view to restoring normalcy within one month. The company also agreed to engage relevant government agencies with a view to addressing demand number 4.
“Similarly, Chevron agreed to commence the process of taking on board as permanent staff some of the community workers and also address other issues tied to demand number 5. On demand number 8, Chevron promised to be more open with the UCMC, going forward.
“Suffice it at this point to inform the general public that we shall end the 11 days old peaceful protest today Wednesday, May 15, 2019 and completely demobilize, even as we continue discussions with Chevron and government at both State and Federal levels. Be it however known that we SHALL not rest until every aspect of our demands are met.
“Ugborodo must be taken out of the doldrums and manifest quagmire of underdevelopment, unemployment and poverty in the midst of God-given natural resources making billions of dollars for Nigeria, Chevron Nigeria Limited and other oil companies operating in Ugborodoland. The UCMC under the leadership of Austin Oborogbeyi Esq is committed to this task among others. The struggle certainly continues!
“May we also use this opportunity to first thank Almighty God that there is no single negative incident all through the duration of this protest. May His name alone be praised. However, we cannot do without thanking Ugborodo indigenes from far and near, the Itsekiri National Youth Congress/Council (INYC), the National Association of Itsekiri Graduates (NAIG), the Itsekiri people from far and near for coming out in their numbers to give the protest the shape and form of mother of all protests. We cannot thank you all enough.
“Our thanks also go to His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu of Warri, the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, the security agencies and the general public for their understanding and empathy. God bless you all”, it said
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