From Joe Obukata Ogbodu, Warri
Prince Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema, the sole representative of the Olu of Warri and Liaison Officer to NNPCL and its JV Partners, has condemned the destruction of a pipeline belonging to Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) in the Dibi-Olero-Abiteye Fields, located in the Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.
In a statement on Thursday, Prince Edema described the attack on Chevron’s pipeline facilities as contrary to the ideology of the Itsekiri nation’s struggle to secure better opportunities for its people in terms of employment, infrastructure, and welfare.
Edema stated: “It has come to the knowledge of the Sole Representative of the Olu of Warri and Liaison Officer to NNPCL and its JV Partners that there is a palpable air of disenchantment with Chevron Nigeria Limited over issues of employment for people from the host communities, particularly in the three Warris of Warri South-West, Warri North, and Warri South Local Government Areas—an advocacy that this office has actively been engaging Chevron on to accommodate Itsekiri people.”
Continuing, he said: “While His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the Olu of Warri, empathises with Chevron over the recent attack on its pipelines in the Dibi-Olero-Abiteye trunk line and flow stations, it is important to use this opportunity to appeal to our youths to remain calm, as this office is actively engaging Chevron on unresolved employment issues.
“We understand that our youths are frustrated over the situation, which portrays that Chevron is taking people from the host communities for granted, but such frustration cannot be allowed to metamorphose into lawless behaviour, such as attacking critical assets by any of our people.
“We restate our commitment to providing a safe and conducive operational environment for Chevron and other IOCs in Itsekiri land, even as we trust that security agencies will leave no stone unturned in identifying and apprehending the perpetrators of the pipeline destruction.
“It is also noteworthy to mention that this condemnable incident is not connected to the legal channels our people have been exploring to address lingering employment issues with Chevron.
“We shall continue to engage with Chevron to find ways of absorbing qualified Itsekiris into the crude oil giant and other oil and gas companies operating in the Warri Kingdom.”