**As Hon. Kenneth Ogba Sues For Peaceful Dialogue
-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –By Michael EKOKORUWE:
Oleh Community women in their numbers on Monday staged a peaceful protest to Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited Oleh, at Oleh – Olomoro Field /Flow Station cluster 5 OML30, Isoko South local government area of Delta State, over award of pumps rental services contract to the people of Oleh kingdom.
The women caring different placards with various inscription like “Heritage give urgent attention in awarding pumps renting contract to Oleh indigenous contractor”, Oleh Community needs the pump contract”, “the flow station carried 3, 5, 8, and 9, give us two pumps and “Heritage award the pump rent contract to Oleh people, were resisted by the companies security operatives at Oleh – Olomoro flow station.
Presenting their demand through the chairman of Oleh Community Development Committee, Chief Obaro Ekokobe, the women stated that recent information on the award of pumps rental services contract revealed that, the interest of Oleh people have been marginalized from benefiting.
Ekokobe said, “We were informed by Olomoro people that the award of pumps rental services contract have been awarded by Heritage oil firm to Olomoro contractors, knowing that the facilities are jointly owned by Oleh – Olomoro communities”. He stated that letter demanding immediate award of the said pump rental contracts with names of companies / contractors from Oleh kingdom to Heritage oil firm was tendered since 12th November 2019.
He maintained that the oil firm invited both contractors from Oleh and Olomoro communities to a meeting on Thursday 14th November 2019 at block P. Niger close NPDC/ND Western Estate Edjeba Warri, but Olomoro contractors turned down holding meeting with Oleh contractors.
Ekokobe noted that the field / flow station caries four serviceable pumps jointly owned by Oleh – Olomoro communities which according to him have no discrimination and disparities on the award of contracts.
He called on the management of heritage oil firm to recognize the people of Oleh community in the award of the pumps contract and give two to Oleh; two to Olomoro community, adding that if Heritage is contracting two pumps, both communities should have one each.
Responding on behalf of Heritage Energy Operational services limited, Mr. Daniel Osunba and Mr. Abel Njokor, D.S.S to Heritage oil firm, promised to channel the request of the protesters to the company’s management, noting that the security department of the company is to ensure absolute protection of lives and properties. Others who represented Heritage oil firm are the community liaison officers from Oleh and Olomoro, Mr. Egbo Savoir and Mr. Akporero Augustine.
While calling for peaceful dialogue between the protesters and Heritage oil firm, the managing director and chief executive officer of Dantinajo Gold Resort limited and contractor to Heritage oil firm, Engr. Daniel Omoyibo {DAMOTECK}, urged the women and chairman Oleh community development committee, Chief Ekokobe Obaro to dialogue with the company’s management on their request.
He commended the people for peaceful protest even as he urged Heritage representatives to meet with the people for peaceful settlement to avoid brake down of law and order.
Also speaking was Hon. Kenneth Ogba, member Delta State house of Assembly representing Isoko South constituency 1. The law maker urged the people to be peaceful, noting that their request will be treated by the management of the company with positive response. He said, the company should be allowed to work even as the situation is under control.
