From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Ondo State Host Community (HostCom), has threatened to shut oil facilities in the state over the appointment of Ifedayo Abegunde from Akure and Otito Atkase from Mahin kingdom to the governing board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Chairman of the HostCom, Ogundere Adejugba, and the Public Relations Officer, Prince Adeoba, during a protest in one of Chevron platforms at Opukaba Community in Ugbo kingdom, claimed that those appointed do not have a single drop of crude oil in their community, contrary to the Legislative Act.
Adejugba noted that Ugbo kingdom is the only sole oil producing ommunity in Ondo State.
“We are rejecting the two nominees based on the established laws of the NDDC. The HostCom has competent sons and daughters who can represent us on the board of the NDDC,” Adejugba said.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to review the NDDC Act before making nominations and assigning portfolios, expressing faith in the president’s commitment to the rule of law.
Adejugba highlighted the Ugbo Kingdom as the sole oil-producing community in Ondo state and warned the state government against conspiracies targeting the kingdom.
While handing down a 7-day ultimatum, he urged the federal government to withdraw the current nominee list and make fresh nominations from the Ugbo Kingdom, stressing that the HostCom will not accept any nominee from anon oil producing community
The Chairman warned that if the government fails to address their concerns, the HostCom might take matters into its own hands, with potential repercussions felt by all.
“Should the federal government persist in violating the law, we will support such actions, albeit with the intention of ensuring that their consequences are felt by all,” Adejugba and Adeoba warned.
He reiterated the need for appointees to the NDDC board to come from oil-producing communities, citing a history of such nominations since the board’s inception in 2000.
He further revealed that previous appointees not from these communities led to legal disputes, with cases filed in Federal High Courts in Abuja and Akure.
He implored the President to recommend someone from the Ugbo Kingdom for board membership and convene a meeting with stakeholders to verify the original oil producers in Ondo state.
“We will shut down oil facilities if their concerns are not addressed,” he threatened.