Ogoni Oil Resumption: Eleme Communities Lament Years of Neglect By Govt, IOCs
Barikui Felix, Port Harcourt
As consultations by the Ogoni Dialogue Committee on oil resumption in Ogoniland continue, its town hall meetings in the area, communities in Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State have urged the committee to address the years of neglect caused by oil exploration and exploitation on their land.
In his address at the town hall meeting held by the Ogoni Dialogue Committee at Eleme at the weekend, the Oneh-Eeh Eleme, HRM King Philip Osaro Obele, emphasised that Eleme has long suffered despite hosting several multinational companies. He called on the committee to consider the community’s grievances, which have been detailed in a memorandum submitted to them.
“Eleme has watched helplessly as our natural resources are extracted by multinational companies, leaving us with massive unemployment, social degradation, abject poverty, and environmental pollution from industrial noise and reckless oil exploitation. The situation in Eleme is deplorable and requires urgent attention,” he stated.
King Obele urged the dialogue committee to take their concerns seriously, assuring them that the people of Eleme would present their issues through the memorandum submitted during the meeting.
“Therefore, our dialogue committee, the people of Eleme will present their problems to you today, articulating our needs to ensure that Eleme’s voice is heard and addressed, as we have suffered immensely,” he added.
He also called for unity among the Ogoni people to ensure the success of the dialogue process.
“I want to reiterate that Eleme people should see themselves as part of the greater Ogoni community. Together, we can work towards solutions that benefit us all,” King Obele said.
In his remarks, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey (Rtd), co-chairman of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, commended the Eleme community for its peaceful engagement throughout the town hall meetings.
He noted that the dialogue has opened avenues for healing and reconciliation after years of neglect and marginalisation, urging the community to seize this opportunity to present their demands to the Federal Government.
“To the people of Eleme, I express my deepest gratitude for your commitment to dialogue. This Town Hall Meeting is a crucial part of our grassroots consultations regarding the resumption of oil activities in Ogoni. This is a moment of opportunity, and I encourage every community to share their memoranda. These contributions will form the foundation of our negotiations, allowing us to address the years of neglect and the environmental damage highlighted in the UNEP report on Ogoni,” Archbishop Kattey stated.
He informed the Eleme communities that the Federal Government has begun implementing the confidence-building measures requested by the Ogoni delegation, including establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology in Saakpenwa. He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to improving the fortunes of the Ogoni people.
Archbishop Kattey extended his appreciation to National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the Rivers State Government for their support of the dialogue committee. “I thank our President for initiating this dialogue process, paving the way for healing and reconciliation. The establishment of the Federal University of Environmental Technology is a testament to this commitment—a promise of a brighter future for our children and communities,” he said.
Noble Obari Nwolu, a youth leader, commended the dialogue committee for their efforts and expressed optimism that all viewpoints would be considered fairly. He emphasised the Eleme people’s support for the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland and encouraged local youth to prepare to benefit from upcoming exploration activities.
“We all share the same desire for oil resumption. We can not let oil remain in the ground while we face hunger. The Federal Government’s approach this time seems different, and we believe it will benefit the people of Ogoni,” he stated. “Youth in Eleme should seize this opportunity to enhance their skills and prepare for meaningful engagement once oil activities resume.”
