Tension in Eleme as SPDC Maneuver to Start Oil Production in
the Area
Investigations by Eleme Research Foundation has revealed
that the people of Eleme and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) may
engage in a fresh hostilities following what the Elemes called SPDC’s attempt
to pitch some group of Elemes against the people in order to resume oil
production activities in the area.
The Eleme Research Foundation (ERF), after its monthly
meeting in Ogale yesterday, said it was outraged by confirmed reports of
renewed attempts by SPDC to commence oil production activities without any
agreement with the Eleme people.
In a statement signed by the Director of Research and
Documentations, Goda Osaro Ollornwi, the Foundation said, “We are aware that
SPDC is not only after commencing oil operation activities in Eleme, but also
to use Eleme as a base from where to drain Ogoni oil”.
The actions of Shell have already created tension across the
whole of Eleme. In Ebubu, Ogale, Onne, Akpajo, Ekporo, and Agbonchia communities,
SPDC is attempting to activate its oil wells, manifolds, flow stations, and
pipelines under the protection of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and recruited
thugs.
The resistance against SPDC’s unwelcome activities including
pitching our people against themselves in an attempt to resume oil production
in Eleme has led to threat to lives and other conflicts that have inflicted
pains on innocent people and the leadership of Eleme Research Foundation is
appealing for a refrain to avoid fatal clash.
The Foundation also pointed out that during one of the
meetings of the SPDC’s created “Eleme
Cluster of SPDC-GMoU” held on 2nd August, 2013, at the Covenant
Faith International Church, Alesa, there was an exchange of bitter words
between the two factions of Akpajo community’s representatives that almost
resulted into an open fight. Another argument which erupted between Ebubu and
Aleto representatives took the timely intervention of the house to prevent a
further open confrontation. Then came the blowing of fire by an Onne
representative that turned into a fracas, which eventually led to the closure
of the meeting.
“The moves that SPDC has made in the last couples of days
are inconvertible steps in resuming oil productions in Eleme. SPDC has
repeatedly stated that it is not interested in resuming oil production in
Ogoniland without the express consent of the Ogoni people, which invariably
includes Eleme. Yet, today, despite a failing peace process, we are seeing
specific steps being undertaken by force to resume oil operations in the area.
The moves by SPDC to alienate and separate Eleme from Ogoni, fragment and
factionalize the people and then begin its oil activities is another attempt to
kill our prominent sons and daughters as it did in 1994/1995.
“The SPDC double standard is made manifest. On one hand,
Shell has taken inconvertible steps in forcefully resuming oil production
activities in Eleme. On the other hand, Shell is maneuvering and tricking the
Elemes into signing an enslavery and exploitative unilaterally doctored
agreement which it christened “Global Memorandum of Understanding” to
deceitfully claim the people’s consent and resume oil activities.
The statement further
revealed that SPDC has been holding secret meetings with 3 representatives from
each of the 16 oil producing communities of Eleme to indoctrinate and convince
them into endorsing the kangaroo “Global Memorandum of Understanding” which has
nothing global in it nor has anything favourable for Eleme people.
“Towards the execution of its alternative strategy (in case
the forceful re-entry fails), on Thursday June 20, 2013, SPDC, through its paid
contractors – Treasure House Consult
– organized an orchestrated training tagged, “Negotiation Skills for Community Discussants: An SPDC’s GMoU Project
for Operational Areas” for the 48 community representatives. The training
which lasted for a whole day surprisingly came to climax with the presentation
of an already prepared agreement by SPDC for signing. The signing of the
“Global Memorandum of Understanding” which SPDC christened “Ice Breaking” in
the Program was turned down by the 48 wise men and women from the 16 oil
communities of Eleme to the astonishment of Shell. The communities’
representatives requested among others time: to study the SPDC produced
agreement; to enable them revert to the communities for wider consultation;
make quality inputs; and the right to reject the purported GMoU if found
unacceptable by the Eleme people, a position which SPDC reluctantly succumbed to.
After the training session and the aborted agreement signing
ceremony held at Presidential Hotels, Port Harcourt on Thursday June 20, 2013,
the secret meeting reconvened twice: first, on Monday 22 July, 2013 (although
postponed due to unsafe venue as the over 50 people stocked into a room met for
maximum of 30 persons refused to proceed with the discussion), and secondly on
Tuesday 23 July, 2013 at SPDC (Industrial Area) Office, Room B4, 244, with
Shell failing to break the deadlock. Since then, the behind the scene
underground moves by SPDC has been intensified and this is already generating
tensions in Eleme.
Meanwhile, it is being rumoured that some
persons have been empowered to write a letter to SPDC purporting to be the
position of Eleme people, requesting Shell to commence oil production
activities in the area. In this regard, we therefore call on SPDC to ignore
such letter as it did not emanate from a consensus opinion on the issue. We are
also pleading with SPDC to immediately stop the onslaught, or be held
responsible for any breakdown of law and order in Eleme, as the developments
provocatively assault our collective interest and threaten peace in our
communities. We would resist SPDC through every legal means at our disposal.
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