Oil communities in Ohaji, Imo State, have threatened to embark on a non-violent mass protest against alleged negligence and injustice meted out to them by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Seplat Petroleum Development Company, Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited, and Sterling Global -four oil producing companies operating in the area.
The Ohaji Development Initiative (ODI), a transformation driver in the area, disclosed the planned protest in a letter written to the four operators, signed by its Chairman, Mr. Tony Ogbonna and four other officers of the group.
ODI, in the letter made available to THISDAY, which contained its charter of demand to the operators, said the protest would take effect on May 17, 2021 if the operators refused to call for an alignment meeting between their cluster boards and the ODI executives to iron out the grievances of the communities.
It explained that the protest would be carried out on major streets across Ohaji, and would be accompanied with a prayer walk to draw the attention of God, the operators and state authorities to the failure of the companies to fulfil their obligations to the people.
“From the 17th of May, Ohaji people are going to be on the streets. We are going to have a non-violent protest and prayer walk. During that, all Ohaji men, women, youth and children are going to be on the streets to express our grievances on what is happening and pray to the oil companies and to God to do something.“We are not telling them not to operate; we are not telling them to go; but we are telling them that in line with statutory requirements, they should integrate our people,” Ogbonna said. (ThisDay)