By Agbomma Igbo,
Following recent suspension of AMNI Petroleum Development Company’s exploration activities by the Rivers State House Assembly, youths in the state have appealed to the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to intervene in the issue to save residents of the area from economic hardship.
AMNI Petroleum Development Company is an oil exploration company operating in Andoni Local Area in Rivers State.
Operations of the company was recently suspended following the findings, and subsequent decision of the ad hoc committee set up by the Rivers Assembly over a petition against the oil firm.
However, President of Obolo Youth Coalition, Comrade Mkpon Ijonama, who spoke on behalf of the youths, sent a Save-Our-Soul (SOS) message to the federal government to prevail on the Rivers Assembly to rescind the decision.
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Addressing journalists on Tuesday, Comrade Ijonama, said the suspension if not checked would cause untold hardship to the indigenes of the area, and may escalate youths’ restiveness in the already calmed area.
He stressed that the company has been playing their expected roles in terms of employment and their Cooperate Social Responsibly to their host communities.
“AMNI PET (AMNI Petroleum Development Company) a federal government licensed oil exploration company has operated peacefully in Andoni over a decade, having over 90 indigent youths on its employment amongst several cooperate social responsibilities to its host communities”, he stated.
The Youth President was precisely reacting to the suspension published on October 21th, 2019, he argued that all matters concerning oil mining and exploration are not in the purview of states government or States Houses of Assemblies, as such the matters falls under the exclusive list.
“I want to use this medium to react on some fundamental issues published on Oct. 21, 2019 edition by The Tide, Rivers government owned Newspaper on the outcome of a resolution reached by an ad hoc committee set up by the Rivers State House of Assembly to look into a petition filed by some aggrieved persons in Andoni.
“The petitioners had accused AMNI PET of laxity, operating without an MOU and failing in its cooperate social responsibilities.”
“Remember, this company has operated on Andoni shores over a decade, am surprised that some persons want to arm twist the law by using the state Assembly against the people especially as the company is set to commence operations on its new oil field, the Turbo field.
“The committee lead by Mr Matthew Dike, representing Tai State Constituency deviated from its constitutional provision by dabbling into matters pertaining to oil exploration and this is worrisome,” the youths further stated.
He stressed further that Rivers Assembly was expected to tow the line of reconciliation to ensure peace and coexistence between the company and their host communities.
“The ad hoc committee set up by the state Assembly does not also have the right to pass judgment on any matter, howbeit; its sole responsibility is to investigate any matter before it.
“Its findings are expected to be conveyed to the Speaker and the house for further deliberations and recommendations.
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“Indeed, I would say that this is a Kangaroo committee because it passed a judgment suspending an operating company not minding the effect of such suspension on our national and local economy,” he said.
The publication also quoted the Paramount ruler of Ngo town, a major host community to AMNI, His Majesty Nnabiget Okuruket XIV as saying that “AMNI has displayed laxity”.
“I wander what type of laxity the Paramount ruler could be referring to since he has always been a rallying point for companies operating in the area, again, why has he condoned this laxity all these years,” he asked.
The youth leader also said that the company’s operations so far is completely in line with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) documents made available to it adding that a white paper on the MOU has been made ready by the MOU drafting committee.
Efforts to reach the paramount ruler proved abortive as repeated telephone calls to him were not connecting at the time filing this report.
