Jonathan’s kinsmen at war with SPDC over 9-yr failed agreement

…As SPDC appeals for restraint

Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s kinsmen have drawn battle line against multinational oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company ( SPDC) over failure to implement a nine years old agreement.

To this end, a 14-day ultimatum has been handed down to ground operations of the oil filed.

Four communities, constituting  Kolo-Creek Cluster Development Board of Shell Petroleum Development Company ( SPDC) in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa state including Imiringi, Otuasega, Oruma and Elebele communities had had agreement with officials of the company since 2013 to provide electricity and other essential amenities to the communities .

But since then  authorities of the oil giant has failed to stick to the agreement as several flimsy excuses were been advanced to delay the supply of electricity to the oil producing communities  that have been in darkness for years.

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The aggrieved communities , in an  ultimatum letter, jointly signed by the paramount rulers of Imiringi, Otuasega, Oruma and Elebele communities demanded restoration of electricity among other due obligations yet to be met also demanded the immediate operationalisation of the 2.5 MVA  generator installed by Morpol Engineering Services Limited, and the award of contract for the Oruma high tension line.

The communities lamented that the SPDC had “deliberately refused to honour the agreements it had with the cluster communities on several occasions since 2013 and  noted that the communities had unanimously resolved to shut down all the oil installations and platforms in Kolo-Creek at the expiration of the 14 days’ ultimatum.

Panicked by the planned massive protest of the communities , SPDC authorities says they are in dialogue with Kolo Creek communities in Bayelsa over plans to disrupt operations.

Contacted on the development,  Mr Michael Adande, an SPDC Spokesman  says  it was working with the Bayelsa government to resolve a dispute with host communities over delays in timeline for electricity project.

Adande who assured that the oil firm was working to resolve the dispute amicably informed that the  Bayelsa state government  has been mediating in the dispute following a protest in Dec 2021.

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“The Bayelsa State Government and SPDC are working with the beneficiary communities to deliver the backup electricity project based on a rescheduled delivery timeline.”, said Adande who appealed to the aggrieved cluster communities to exercise restraint.

Impeccable community sources disclosed that despite the huge amount of oil being drilled from the area in question, no reasonable development in the area over the years .These  communities have been in squalor and darkness , nothing to show that we are oil producing communities” noted an aggrieved community folk in an interview.