A non-governmental organisation, the Media Initiative
against Injustice, Violence and Corruption (MIIVOC) has urged the Rivers State
Governor, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike to step in and resolve the difference between the
Egi Community in Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of the State and Total
Oil Company in the area before it escalates, reports NaijaAgroNet.
Making this call recently, the Executive Director, MIIVOC,
Dr. Walter Duru, warned in Port Harcourt that the lingering disagreement
between the two parties could worsen the already threatened security situation
in the area.
He noted recent newspapers report that a group identified as
Egi Freedom Fighters gave conditions for acceptance of the state government’s
amnesty, stressing that among their demands were the rebuilding of houses of
members of the community, allegedly destroyed by the military at the instance
of the oil company, employment and scholarship opportunities, skills
acquisition, capacity development, among others.
“I have not read any reaction from Total Oil Company,
accepting that they sent the military to destroy the people’s houses or denying
it. It does not appear to me like a good strategy. Although they did not indict
the state government, the government’s response so far could be better,” he
said.
Dr. Duru, who also is Chairman, Board of the Freedom of
Information Coalition, Nigeria, lamented that if urgent steps are not taken,
the begging peaceful situation in that community could degenerate.
“I am afraid that if the parties do not find a way to
resolve the issues, the tension in the area could be further heightened. ONELGA
LGA is already tensed. Omoku community is today a shadow of itself. Government
must be strategic in its engagements, to ensure that the near culture of
violence in the area is not sustained. The group’s demands, apart from that of
rebuilding of houses, are not different from the age-long issues and causes of
agitation in the Niger Delta. The group has listed their demands. There has to
be a way out. Let the government intervene,” he said.
Duru who is a member of the Federal Government’s Steering
Committee on the Open Government Partnership, beckoned on the State governor,
as Chief Security Officer of the State to step in, reach out to the parties
and, if possible, involve an independent Civil Society Organisation to broker
peace among the parties.
“Whatever strategy to be adopted must be such that can stand
the test of time and ensure sustainable peace in the area,” he declared.
Further, Dr. Duru argued that it is easier to prevent the
escalation of the issue, than to manage the crises when it eventually
escalates, urging the government to act quickly.
“The state government’s amnesty programme appears to be
working. Many have embraced it.
However, borrowing a leaf from the parable of
the lost sheep in the Bible, Governor Wike, as father of the state should look
into the matter dispassionately and ensure that justice is done. Let a platform
be created for dialogue between the community and the company so the issues
would be addressed. Applying force in the matter could backfire. Let dialogue
be the instrument,” he said.
Uboshe Uboshe/GEE
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