By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA
The Delta State Government has affirmed that the there’s no threat to peace and security in the oil operating environment in the State.
The Delta State Deputy Governor, Dcn Kingsley Otuaro stated this yesterday after a closed-door meeting with selected leaders of the Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation (EGCDF) in Government House Annex, Warri.
Otuaro, who lauded the leaders of the foundation of the communities that is hosting Chevron Nigeria Limited for championing peace despite the numerous agitations going on in the country, disclosed that the meeting was in line with the previous ones as ways of building peace and security in the oil operating environment.
According to the Deputy Governor, “we discussed some relevance security issues that concerns the aforementioned oil company in Egbema – Gbaramatu. It’s one of our routine meetings. And it’s nice that we have been able to brainstorm and of course agreed to continually maintain the peace that which they are known for”.
“There’s no threat. It’s our custom for us to once in a while meet, review and articulate our thoughts as concerns the ongoing in the said environment. And so far, like I said, there’s relative peace, calmness and we have so much implicit confidence in the selected leadership of the Foundation”. He added.
While thanking and appreciating the leadership of the Foundation on behalf of the State Government that they will keep it up on the peace and security in the environment, Otuaro charged oil producing communities to always leverage on the conflict resolution institutions established by the State Government to address issues.
The Chairman of the Foundation, Comrade Jude Ukori said it was a community base development organization known for infrastructural development and promotion of peace and security in the areas.
Comrade Ukori who stated that the meeting was very important because of the key roles in promoting the needed peace in the area over numerous agitations they have been playing, said that host communities should be right of first refusal of bidding process and equity shares especially on the OML that’s causing some of the agitations.
The Vice Chairman of the Foundation, Chief Godspower Gbenekeme, who revealed that their vision was to provide human and infrastructural development to oil bearing Communities in Egbema and Gbaramatu Communities, noted that the overall development of oil bearing Communities is not negotiable, based on the contribution of the area to the wealth of the nation.
“No effort will be spared in the sustainability of peace in the Egbema and Gbaramatu Communities.” Gbenekeme added
The Meeting was witnessed by representatives from Egbema and Gbaramatu Communities and top government officials and politicians, including the Delta State Commissioner for Oil & Gas, Hon. Prince Emmanuel Agbamduba, the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Petroleum matters Barr. Ernest Ogwezzy, among others .