By John Dugbe - Special Correspondent, Ughelli
The people of Kemefeghabomo community under the aegis of Letugbene Federated Communities in Ekeremo Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have issued a seven-day ultimatum to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to recognise them as its host community, threatening to shut down facilities at Tunu flow station if their demands were not met at the expiration of the ultimatum.
The people of Letugbene, who were represented by the executives of the federated communities, handed down the ultimatum during a peaceful protest that lasted for several hours at Tunu flow station.
They decried the apparent neglect of the community by Shell for 25 years, saying that they would no longer condone the high handedness of the oil giant.
Some of the placards carried by the protesters, who demanded that they be given their due, had inscriptions such as “We need our rights and privileges”; “our people are dying of acute penury”; “give us our due rights and privileges”; “get it clear, we are your aboriginal landlords”; earlier the better.”
However, soldiers who were on guard stopped electronic media personnel from video taping the protest.
The community also accused SPDC of inciting and taking sides with the people of Egbema-Angalabiri communities, also in Ekeremor Local Government of Bayelsa State even after a High Court ruled in their favour, describing the action as “unfair and unjust.”
An opinion leader in the Letugbene Federated Communities, Chief Noel Dabazouwei, said the protest became necessary after all entreaties with SPDC to consider their plights failed. adding that SPDC has refused to honour a Bayelsa State High Court Judgment that ruled that the disputed land rightfully belong to the people of Letugbene Federated Communities.
Chief Dabazouwei, noted that SPDC allegedly incited Egbema-Angalabiri people to contend with the land for over 25 years before they got back their lands through a court victory, adding, “We have documents to show that the land actually belong to us. We won the case with Shell and Egbema-Angalabiri Community in the Bayelsa State High Court. Here is the judgement”.
The post Kemefeghabomo community issues ultimatum to SPDC appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.