Thursday 31 October 2013

OIL SPILL: EXXON MOBIL SHUNS GOV. AKPABIO

Attempts by the state Governor Chief Godswill Akpabio to step into the lingering protest staged by the youths of Eket federal constituency against the oil rich Exxon Mobil fell flat as the oil company rejected the intervention without an excuse. Governor Akpabio was represented by the state Secretary to State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel. The stage was Ikot Edor at the palace of the paramount ruler of Onna Local Government Area, HRH Akwa Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa were stakeholders, youths and women of the communities gathered to restate their avowed commitment to continue with the protest until Exxon Mobil meets their demands which are, payment of the November, 2012 oil spill money which amounted to 26.5billion naira, employment of their citizens in the company as permanent staff and the unconditional release of the abducted paramount ruler of Esit Eket Local Government Area, HRH Obong Ubong Assam.


The converge at the Onna paramount ruler’s palace began as early as nine o’ clock and the SSG arrived quite on time but in the later part of noon to join in a closed door meeting that had the protest coordinator, Isiah Abia, the paramount rulers of Eket, Ibeno and that of Onna Local Government Areas. That of Esit Eket could not attend the meeting as he was still in kidnappers den. Others who attended the closed door meeting were the council chairmen of Eket, Aniekan Akpan, Esit Eket Ibanga Etang, Onna Ufot Sunday and that of Ibeno Henry Ekpe Nko. 

Members representing Eket, Ayang Akanimo Ayang that of Onna Gabriel Tobby at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly were in attendance. The member for Esit Eket/ Ibeno state constituency, Hon Okpolupm Etteh was absent from the meeting and it was not readily ascertained why he was conspicuously absent. Commissioners Enobong Uwah, EmemAbasi Bassey, Ita Umoh Udo were all in attendance. The meeting deliberated amongst other things how the youths could be talked over to discontinue the protest as well as how to get the company Exxon Mobil to meet the demands of the communities. 

While in the closed door meeting, it was discussed and deliberated amongst other things how the authorities of Exxon Mobil would be made to see the need to meet with the requests of the protesters. Most of the stakeholders expressed their displeasure over the neglect of the meeting by Exxon Mobil and described it as a height of insensibilities to their host communities. The youths on their part threatened that they will not pull out of the protest. In the closed door meeting, it was readily obvious that some stakeholders of the region and elders were not sincere in their argument, they rather than hit the nail on the head were dilly-dialing. Their selfish approach to these issues is what led the community to this mess, a stakeholder of the region lamented to our reporter last weekend. 

The state secretary to state Government Mr. Udom Emmanuel whom a government House source said came to represent the Governor was visibly angry over the none availability of Exxon Mobil at the meeting but still went ahead with the closed door meeting at the residence of the Onna Royal monarch.
Speaking after the closed door meeting the SSG said the meeting was to chart the course for peace for the area. He said while making reference to the Bible that the protesters should dialogue in peace as according to him the whole world knows that we are peace makers. He however appealed to the youths not to take the laws into their hands and maintained that the state will continue to use dialogue to ensure that a lasting solution is found to the lingering challenges.

Meanwhile no official statement has been extracted from Exxon Mobil concerning their plans to the protesting communities and why they shunned the Ikot Edor meeting. But a top management staff of Exxon Mobil while speaking to our reporter with strict condition of anonymity maintained that the company could not attend the Ikot Edor meeting Our source said the elders of Ibeno, Esit Eket and Onna are to be blamed on whatever is befalling the communities arguing that sometimes some Elders of the area had always negotiated for their interests alone and described as unfortunate the protest which have succeeded in shutting down some operations in the company. Our source however refused to comment on the effect the protest will have on Exxon Mobil and their operations but maintained with optimism that if the protest is managed well, most of the demands may be met

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