SAN FRANCISCO, October 21, (THEWILL) – As the seven day ultimatum issued to authorities of ExxonMobil by stakeholders in Eket Federal Constituency for the full payments of N26.5bn oil spill compensation to the four oil producing Local Governments gradually draws to an end, several indigenes of the communities have staged a peaceful protest around the operational base of the oil giants in Ibeno to drive home their demands.
The protest, which was organised by the Eket Federal Constituency Vanguard was led by Mr Isaiah Abia and Mr William Mkpa.
The Eket communities, according to Abia decided to embark on the warning protest march to send a signal to Mobil that they will make good their threat of a massive protest at the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum it issued last week.
They urged the multinational oil firm not to dare the community any further, but to fulfill its obligation of paying N26.5bn to make for the damages caused by “the 300 barrels of crude oil spillage of November, 2012” which resulted in mayhem on the economic lives of the coastal communities.
The ultimatum will expire on Wednesday, October 23.
The protesters who displayed various placards and trumpets during the protest barricaded the oil company’s access gates in Ibeno for hours before dispersing with a note that the era of allowing Mobil to always take them for granted, is over.
It would be recalled that the paramount rulers of the four local governments had on 25th September condemned and rejected an overture of N2.6 bn offered by the oil giant, maintaining that it was grossly inadequate for the quantum loss experienced by the community.
Another communiqué dated 16th October , and signed by representatives from the four oil bearing communities namely Isaiah Abia(Esit Eket), William Mkpa(Ibeno), Ime Utin(Onna) and Udo Bassey(Eket) reads in part, “That the Community Vanguard condemns in strong terms several lies, insults, abuses and total disregard by Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited of the agreements reached at the intervention meetings held by Gov. Godswill Akpabio on November 23, 2012 and July 26, 2013 on the oil spill saga.
“That the Community Vanguard demands 100 employment slots for graduates and 100 slots for artisans to make up for the neglect since 1998.
“That henceforth, oil spill compensation will be paid in dollars, and that communities should be allowed to select their projects and consultants.
“That compensation should be made to reach the communities and individuals to make up for their losses.
“That Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited should comply with the above demands within seven days and that failure shall result in serious and indefinite protest and actions.”
The communities also accused the state government of plan to use oil spill money in constructing Eket-Ibeno Road. They stated that any such efforts by the government will be resisted by the communities.
Soon after the protest, normal duties were grounded at major Mobil facilities in Eket and Ibeno as security agents took the centre stage.
Attempts to get the media contact for Mobil, Mr. Cornell Udeagwu , to speak on the protest was unsuccessful as he feigned ignorance of the protest, saying he was in a meeting.
