By Sam Akadoro / Special Correspondent, Sapele
President-General of Ughievwen Union and Ekakpamre community leader, Chief Mike Akponokan Oghenemine, has lamented what he described as “total and wicked” neglect of the Ekakpamre community by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Delta State Oil Producing Area Development commission (DESOPADEC).
Ekakpamre is a major oil producing community of Delta State.
Oghenemine spoke while conducting journalist round the community to see things for themselves.
According to him, all efforts to make the two oil commissions reason with the oil rich community in its areas of need failed to yield result.
He was sad particularly with DESOPADEC because the commissioner representing Ughelli South and Udu Local Government areas showed no interest in the matter after long discussions with him except to make “empty promises”.
He wondered if Ekakpamre oil community was different, noting that NDDC and DESOPADEC were establish to carter for the oil producing communities to minimise youths and communal restiveness occasioned by poor or none provision of essential amenities and projects.
Ekakpamre is an oil producing community since 1962 to date where, due to major oil spillage and other oil and air pollution, has brought hardship to the people.
This is in addition to hunger and starvation visited on the people, as their major means of livelihood, farming and fishing, were totally destroyed by oil pollution.
The community leader bemoaned the fact that his people have nothing to show for the resources that are being exploited from their soil, adding, “Instead all they got is hardship, fake and failed promises, empty assurances; but how long can people endure?”
He warned that there is a limit to the extent the elders and community leaders could go in pacifying the youth to keep the peace and continued suffering in the midst of plenty while those who do not deserve it are enjoying it.
Oghenemine urged government to intervene fast before it becomes too late.
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