Committee for the defence of human rights (CDHR) has issued a 120-hour ultimatum to Oriental Energy Resources Limited, OERL to immediately comply with all the agreements it entered into with Effiat/Mbo host communities in Akwa Ibom state or face a legal action.
In a letter addressed to the company on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the committee said it was disturbed that the youths of Mbo Local government under the aegis of Obolo Youth Coalition had given a 21-day ultimatum to the organization for a mother of all protests having failed woefully to implement the agreements reached at the zonal office of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, in November 2023 and October 2024, respectively.
Signed by the Akwa Ibom state chairman of the CDRH, Comrade Ndifreke Afangide, the rights group said despite being in possession of al! treaties and letters exchanged, “Oriental Energy Resources Limited has brazenly disregarded the NOGICD Act 2010 on community content guidelines, thereby perpetuating a culture of impunity and disdain for the rights of the host community. This blatant disregard for the law and the rights of the host communities is an affront to the principles of justice, equity, and good Conscience.
“As we always emphasize, “Pacta sunt servanda” (Agreements must be kept), which is a fundamental principle of contract law. Your organization’s failure to honor its agreements with the host community is a clear violation of this maxim.
“Furthermore, as a human rights group, we are guided by the aluta philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of continuous struggle for justice, equality, and human rights. We will not stand idly by while Oriental Energy Resources Limited tramples on the rights of the host community and by extension Akwa Ibom State.
“In light of the foregoing, we demand that Oriental Energy Resources Limited provides a detailed explanation to the above-named organization, within 120 hours of receipt of this letter, for its failure to honor its agreements with the host community. We also demand that Oriental Energy Resources Limited takes immediate steps to implement the agreements reached and provide adequate compensation to the host communities for the damages suffered. Should Oriental Energy Resources Limited fail to comply with our demands, and there is a breakdown of law and order in the host community, we will hold Oriental Energy Resources Limited solely responsible for any consequences that may arise. We will not hesitate to mobilize the host community, other stakeholders, and all Akwalbomites to take lawful actions to protect their rights and interests.”