■ It belongs to Niger Delta –Dokubo
■ You are a comedian –LASG
■ He is a dangerous opportunist –Apa community
By RAZAQ BAMIDELE
IT appears the last has not been heard about the oil well recently discovered in the Badagry axis of Lagos State as claims and counter claims of ownership of the treasure have become the order of the day in recent time.
The oil well, OML 113 (Aje Oil Fields) owned and operated by the Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company Limited, which is situated in the western axis of the ancient town of Badagry in Lagos State is now a subject of altercation between the state government and Apa community on one hand and the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo on the other hand.
While the state Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode celebrated the discovery of the black gold within his domain, and supported by Apa community, which claimed that the treasure is just in its backyard, the former militant leader, Asari Dokubo dropped a bombshell, claiming that the oil field belongs to his region in the Niger Delta.
But both the Lagos State Government and the Apa Community have cried blue murder, describing Dokubo as a court jester, comedian and dangerous opportunist.
Recently, Dokubo stirred the hornet’s nest when he took to his Facebook page to announce to the world that the oil found in Badagry, Lagos State belongs to his people in the Niger Delta area.
In a swift reaction, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde who described Dokubo’s claims as not only false but the antics of a comedian, said “Dokubo’s sense of humour is appreciated,” warning, “However, oil and gas is no subject of comedy.”
While asserting that, “the oil discovery in Lagos is a reality that won’t lend itself to jokes,” Ayorinde emphasized that, “the oil discovered in Badagry will work for the citizens just like Lagos will continue to work for everybody under Governor Akinwumi Ambode.”
And speaking through one of the respected Princes of Apa Kingdom, Ademola Bankole, the Alapa of Apa Kingdom, Oba Oyekan Adekanmi Ajose Ilufemiloye (JP), Possi III, who is holidaying in the United States described Dokubo as “a dangerous opportunist.”
According to him, Apa kingdom is the major host community to the oilfield, saying, “we are not at all amazed by the outburst of Asari Dokubo.”
The community then drew the attention of the state government to Dokubo’s university in Benin Republic, which has proximity to the oilfield in Nigeria suspecting that Dokubo is using such a proximity to lay claim to the oil for his kinsmen in the Niger Delta region.
Bankole, in a chat with Sunday Sun went down the memory lane by noting that, the Apa monarch had the foresight of the prospect awaiting the kingdom since 2014 when he sought for excision of some acquired lands from the state government for development purposes.
The community, therefore, urged the state government to be careful about some people who are clandestinely planning against making the oil useful to the generality of the Nigerian people as a whole and Lagos citizens in particular.