From Joshua Chibuzo Andrew
Indigenes of Obitti autonomous community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State have decried sheer neglect, intimidation, harassment and marginalization by Sterling Global, an oil exploration company operating in the area.
The people who strongly condemned these ugly treatments being meted out on them by Sterling Global, during a peaceful protest, organized by Obitti Liberation Council (OLC), last week, at the area, said that the company shies away from meeting its responsibilities, having drilled their oil resources for a couple of years.
The protest was carried out following the arrest of some prominent leaders of the said community and the subsequent detention of Chairman of OLC at the Police Headquarters, Abuja.
They regretted that instead of Sterling Global to lawfully do the needful by developing their community, pay its workers handsomely and when necessary, it resorted to cheating, harassing, intimidating and bullying them with the military.
The people pointed out that Sterling Global has no intention to evenly develop their community and allow them to fully enjoy their God-given resources otherwise the gas that emits, spills and wastes at Rig 2 (Oguali Flow Station, OFS) and Rig 8 ought to have been converted to gaslight to generate electricity for the entire community as it is done in other climes, frowning that the spilling gas pulutes the environment and inflicts residents with disease.
Leading the protest, Vice Chairman of OLC, Ossai Nzubechi Godswil, urged the Inspector General of Police to intervene and quickly release the detained Chairman of Obitti Liberation Council, Eugene Nwangbo, who he said was illegally arrested and detained at Abuja when he and other prominent leaders of the host community were invited for a meeting at Vamillion Hotel, Mgbirichi, Ohaji, by the Management of Sterling Global, to address the issue of nonpayment of Community Workers’ Salary for the Months of January and February, 2025.
In his words, Secretary of OLC, Ohaji Iheanyi, was bitter that “Sterling Global came to destroy the community with lies and deceits. The oil company is not even concerned about the infrastructural deficits in the community hence it wastes gas. Gas flaring in the area is very alarming, devastating as it contaminates the environment”.
While remarking that since the entrance of Sterling Global into the peaceful and agrarian community, a village leader, Ndubuisi Iheakanwa, cried out that the oil company molests indigenes with the Military because they asked it to do the right thing to strengthen development and socialization in the area.
The protest attracted the attention of Imo State Police Commissioner, Aboki Danjuma, who reasonably, quickly arrived the community with his men.
The CP called for peaceful co- existence between Sterling Global and the Community, asking the oil exploration company to maintain the MOU reached while working in line with the PIA, saying the best way to go in oil business is dialogue, even as he promised to signal the force headquarters, Abuja, to negotiate for the prompt release of Eugene Nwangbo, who the people said is not a criminal nor a kidnapper as the company alleged.
Nwangbo was said to have been arrested after he stopped a pipeline construction work in the community as the company failed to pay its workers and attend to their other demands. His arrest led to a peaceful protest by the youth of the community.
The people demanded electricity, equipping their health centre, water treatment plant, skill acquisition, community workers salary review, employment of youths, sending them abroad for training, offering of scholarships to secondary and tertiary students, completion of the abandoned technical collage, stoppage of gas flaring, among others.
Obitti is one of the major oil and gas producing communities in Imo State, but has not witnessed any public social amenities.
Being the most peaceful and accommodating community in the state, Obitti indigenes are very godly, friendly, educated and law-abiding, this is why they have not resorted to violence or restiveness as they are cheated, bullied, marginalized and shortchanged by government and oil exploration companies.
Hence, they are calling on government and oil companies operating therein to adequately install infrastructure, engage their youths into public service, oil companies, place every indigene on monthly salary (bursary), send them oversees for education and internship training/program. This will lessen their suffering and sustain peace and development.
