Youths in Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom in Delta State have expressed
their willingness to join hands with the government in its advocacy on
protection of oil installations in the kingdom.
The youths declared their support during a town hall meeting with the
Delta State Advocacy Committee against Oil Facility Vandalization, led
by the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro in
Oporoza.
Youth leader, Moses Yabrade disclosed that the oil companies operating
in the area have continually failed to implement safety agreement
on oil installations.
Mr. Yabrade lamented that while the youths were willing to be involved
despite their lamentable condition, there was no synergy between the
government and its agencies for opting for surveillance, stressing that
the arrest and incarceration of five persons/agents of the Pipeline
Surveillance/Protection Services (PSPS) as confirmed by Chevron was a
frightening experience.
He advised the Otuaro-led Advocacy Committee to create the platform for
the required synergy saying, "In history, violence upon violence has never produced peace. Innocent
ordinary people suffer for military harassment and intimidation that
has made Gbaramatu Kingdoman endangered species. Gathering and working
with intelligence is better. Nobody will destroy or allow the destruction of what or where he feeds from.
"If the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) gas line was engaged to generate
electricity, for instance, for the communities in its path, no
community will allow such vandalism that will negatively affects its
comfort, without confronting the perpetrators”.
Yabrade added that the Pipelines Products Marketing Company (PPMC)
should re-introduce its abandoned but beautiful proposal of development
award/projects for peaceful communities, an idea he said could
galvanize communities to active protection of oil facilities.
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