Oil Spill Palavar: Ibeno paramount ruler speaks

 

The people of Ibeno Local Government have advised Exxon Mobil to respect the Akwa Ibom Governor, Barr. Godswill Akpabio and pay the oil spill compensation within two weeks to the core affected communities and other affected parties as the governor has intervened in the protest staged by the affected communities which halted Mobil operation for over one week. 

  This was contained in a press release signed by the paramount ruler of Ibeno Local Government Area HRM Owong (Dr) Effiong B. Archianga (JP). The release recalled that in March 2008, Akwa lbom State Government had intervened in oil spill crises and asked Exxon Mobil to pay compensation to the affected communities but Mobil refused to honour the instruction of the government until the affected parties had to establish a litigation against Mobil before the payment was made. 

  The release further cautioned that Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited should not try to turn Ibeno and other affected local government into another Ogoni land of industrial violence and maintained that the MOU Mobil Signed with the core communities in November 1998, which is lbeno, Eket, Esit Eket and Onna Local Government Areas, should be respected. 

He lamented that the fuss of the oil spill bribe had caused the kidnap of the paramount ruler of Esit Eket, HRM Edidem Ubong Peter Assam III, when no paramount ruler or their Local Government chairmen of the core communities has been bribed or even given a dime. 

  The monarch while calling on Exxon Mobil to respect Akwa lbom Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio and keep to the two weeks ultimatum which was effected from 29 of October, to November 11, 2013, also called on the government to direct the judiciary to implement the Anti-kidnapping/assassination laws enacted by Akwa lbom State House of Assembly in order to curb these criminal menace in the society. 

  The release while thanking Governor Godswill Akpabio and the secretary to the state government for their quick intervention, advised the aggrieved parties to remain calm while negotiations continue.