2019: OBOLO YOUTHS SET TO MOVE AGAINST UDOM, Demand Share of 13% Derivation Fund

 Youths of Eastern Obolo extraction in Akwa Ibom State, South South Nigeria have threatened to redetermine their political course and undertake unpalatable legal and social actions in the polity, unless, Government at all levels will urgently take steps to address what they described as 'targeted and unprecedented neglect and abandonment of the people of Eastern Obolo despite their pride of place as the oil resources base of Akwa Ibom State'. 

They have further called on all stakeholders to move with speed in marshalling out a strategic plan of action for urgent clean up of areas, including the entirety of Obolo land as affected by the latest oil spill and provision of palliatives to restore the people's lost economic platforms, saying, 'this year alone, we have had 14 oil spills'. 

These and many more are contained in a strong worded media statement issued under the aegis of Joint Eastern Obolo Youth Leaders, and endorsed for and on behalf of all Obolo youths at home and in the Diaspora by Engr. Festus Sunday, foremost environmentalist and former aide on Petroleum Matters to former Governor Godswill Akpabio, Comrade Johnson Jumbo, Chairman, Eastern Obolo Youth Council, Comrade Paul Waribo, Secretary, Eastern Obolo Youth Council and Comrade Onyedi James, Chairman, Eastern Obolo Youth Caucus, a copy which however was obtained by Our Correspondent.

 According to the youths, "the level of neglect and abandonment of the land and people of Obolo Nation is both unprecedented and alarming, it is a calculated and targeted attempt to intimidate our people, explore our economic resources and recolonize us in this contemporary age of freedom, social Justice and democracy", "What is happening to us in Akwa Ibom State, our proud land of birth and heritage is the same thing happening to Niger Delta by the rest of Nigeria". In a rather reflective and tensed language, the Statement continued: "It is rather curious that despite being the largest producer of crude oil in the State, we can't point to any major infrastructure provided by Government, either the State or Federal. 

We have been tactically shut out of decision making in the State, as we neither have a Commissioner nor Special Assistant in this government, even when previous regimes had carefully included our people in the cabinet". In a manner which perceive of imminent severance of political ties with the Governor Udom Emmanuel 2019 project over his arguable insensitivity to their interests and well-being, the Youths reasoned thus, "interestingly, we the signatories to this statement are the very ones who worked and campaigned for the Governor, addressed him when the campaign train berthed in our land and have continued to hold loyalty and allegiance to the Governor unconditionally. We have kept our side of the bargain, and therefore feels deeply betrayed by his continuous silence over our plight and state of affairs". 

Perhaps to correct the seeming bad impression on the side of authorities and restore the confidence of Obolo people, the youths have demanded for the creation of Akwa Ibom State Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (AKWAPADEC), urgent clean up of the communities affected the the recent ExxonMobil oil spill and passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) by the National Assembly. In their words, "it is a well known fact that no Obolo indigene has ever been appointed to serve on the Board of NDDC since inception of the commission, now we are strongly calling on the State Government to establish AKWAPADEC, the Akwa Ibom State Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission for the core oil Producing Areas of Eastern Obolo, Ibeno, Mbo, Esit Eket, Ikot Abasi, Onna and Mkpat Enin. As it's equitable and obtained in other States, the Commission would be funded from 10 percent of the 13percent Oil Derivation Funds accrued to oil States". 

On the recent oil spill that has ravaged our community and destroyed our people's only source of livelihood, "we demand the Federal Government of Nigeria, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and ExxonMobil to urgently commission a Joint Inspection Visit (JIV) to measure the extent and magnitude of damage and determine the appropriate response that shall lead to the clean up and immediate restoration of the people's livelihood sources.

 The issues of pollution and environmental degradation must be equally addressed with the urgency it requires through the development of an environment management plan, signing of Memorandum Of Understanding and provision of palliatives and provision of compensation and other palliative packages for the affected communities". 

 Elsewhere in the release, they youths said, "furthermore, we call on the National Assembly to expedite legislative actions, and ensure the passage of Petroleum Industry Bill as soon as possible, as it shall enhance the economic conditions of the rural areas who produce and suffer the adverse effects of oil exploration"