OGUA/ENEDUA PROTEST: Shell, Agip Accept Responsibility For Road Repairs
2 min read
by Oyagiri ChimeThe people of Ogua/ Enuedua Clan of Engenni ethnic group in Ahoada West local government area of Rivers State may heave a sigh of relief soon if promises made by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Agip to fix the Mbiama/Akinima/Joinkrama Road comes to fruition.
The promise followed a peaceful protest by the people of Ogua/ Enedua Clan over the deplorable state of the road.
To douse the tension building up in the area over the issue, representatives of the two International Oil Companies (IOCs) have promised to fix the bad spot on the road within two weeks.
The president of Ogua/ Enuedua Volunteer Youths Association, Comrade Sampson Oviemenavaya in a telephone conversation with Boch News, thanked the youths, traditional Council, Women of the clan for coming out enmasse to protest against the neglect by the oil companies.
Sampson opined that the protest would have been avoided if the companies had explored opportunities created by the clan leadership for peaceful negotiation and settlement.
He described as minor, what would have caused a major upheaval if allowed to fester, adding that amongst pyramid of neglect, the only one which will be to the companies’ benefit, was also neglected.
“These people are terrible. The only language they seem to understand is crisis. Good that has ended,” he said.
The youth leader avowed that, should the companies renege on their promise of fixing the road within two weeks, he would have no option than to call out his people.
He urged the people to go about their legitimate businesses and never be allowed to be provoked by agents of underdevelopment, while awaiting the fixing of the road that has turned a ‘dead trap’.
