A key stakeholder in the oil-rich Ugborodo Community in the Warri South-West LGA of Delta State and executive member of the Ugborodo Community Trust (UCT), Comrade Alex Eyengho has described as “totally mischievous and fake news” a report trending on Facebook and other social media platforms with the caption, “PIA: Ugborodo Leaders Disown Olu of Warri.”
According to him, the meeting of Ugborodo Community held at Ode-Ugborodo on June 14, 2022, was purely to take a look at the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as it concerns the interest of the community, adding that at no time was the Olu of Warri discussed at the meeting.
“The said social media report is the most mischievous fake news I have ever read in my entire life! Only the uninformed would believe this sponsored propaganda that is anything and everything but true!,” Comrade Eyengho stated, adding that the meeting simply established the fact that the entire PIA and its execution was host communities-based and Ugborodo Community being one of such host communities was desirous and indeed eager to meet with the IOCs with a view to discussing details of the modus operandi of the PIA.
Said he, “I was one of those invited to the meeting who attended and was indeed made the Secretary of the meeting. We had robust discussions about the PIA and wondered why the IOCs were yet to come and engage with Ugborodo Community as already being done directly with other neighbouring host communities as enshrined in the PIA. We resolved to ensure that such crucial meetings with the IOCs happen as soon as possible. We, at no time discussed the Olu of Warri neither could we have discussed any PIA Committee which Ugborodo Community was not aware of or invited to. At the end of the meeting, I compiled a report which I made available to the mass media. It is this report that some notoriously mischievous and clueless Facebook pages like ‘ITSEKIRI GIST, ITSEKIRI LIBERATOR’ and a few others picked up, doctored and posted out in a most bizarre manner, certainly to tarnish the image of Ugborodo Community and other individual targets with a view to turning them against the Olu of Warri, to the satisfaction of their paymasters. Most of the individuals, including Hon (Chief) Thomas Ereyitomi who they claimed in their warped report attended the meeting, were only invited but never attended. For the avoidance of doubt, the original report I put together and made available to the press shortly after the said meeting, is hereby reposted below, unedited,” Comrade Eyengho stated.
“PIA: Ugborodo Community Vows to Stick with the Law”
The people of oil-rich Ugborodo Community in the Warri South-West LGA of Delta State have vowed to ensure the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in Ugborodoland in strict compliance with the spirit and letters of the extant laws.
This unanimous decision was taken at a special general meeting of all critical segments in Ugborodo Community including the Council of Elders headed by the Eghare-Aja Wellington Ojogor and Olaja-Orori Benson Dube Omadeli, the Community Trust, Women, Youths, the five sub-communities that make up Ugborodo Community (Ode-Ugborodo, Ogidigben, Ajudaibo, Madangho, Ijaghala) and other stakeholders on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at the Ode-Ugborodo Town Hall.
While reemphasising that the entire PIA was communities-based, the meeting called on relevant companies and government agencies operating in Ugborodoland to immediately engage Ugborodo Community directly and not through third parties of any form or shape, stressing that the community would resist any attempt by any person or group of persons no matter how highly placed, to subvert any part of the PIA to the detriment of Ugborodo Community.
To show its seriousness on the matter, the community mandated relevant segments of the community including the Ugborodo Community Trust (UCT) and other key stakeholders in the know, to liaise with the necessary IOCs and relevant government agencies for the purpose of information gathering and ultimate official meeting with the Ugborodo Community, on or before the special general meeting would reconvene on Saturday, June 25, 2023 at the same venue.
Some of the other individuals invited to the meeting were the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayirimi Emami, member representing the Warri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon (Chief) Thomas Ereyitomi, Prince Perry Atete, Austine Oboroegbei, Esq., Dr. Ayo Ayomike, Mr. Isaac Botosan, Mr. Mofe Pirah, Mr. Joseph Tenumah, Mr. Monday Tenumah, Chief Bawo Kperegbeyi, Hon David Tonwe, Comrade Alex Eyengho, Mr. Julius Atete, Pastor Benson Babine, Mr. Femi Uwawah and Mr. Joseph Uwawah among others.”
