Acquire Agip’s liabilities, not only assets, Diri tells Oando

• Says Dredging, Dams Solution To Flooding
• Reinstates Traditional Ruler

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has implored Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited, which recently acquired the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), to accept the liabilities and not just the assets of the oil firm it bought over.

Diri said this was the only way to end the frosty relationship between the former company and its host communities.

He stated this during the courtesy visit of the management team of Oando Energy to Government House, Yenagoa.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as calling on the Oando management to right the wrongs of the divested company by addressing issues of employment, contractual benefits, security jobs and environmental pollution.

He advised the company to avoid the ugly incident associated with another oil firm operating in the state that is in court with the government over an oil spill dispute in Nembe Local Council.

Diri noted that multinational companies that shy away from corporate social responsibility end up as bad business managers, which in the long run result in a crisis between them and their host communities.

He also stated that indigenes that qualify to work in the oil firm should not only be considered for the lower ranks but should also be part of the management.

He promised the management of the government’s collaboration, saying the state has a lot to gain from peaceful oil activities.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited, Dr. Ainojie Irune, said the visit was to formally introduce the management team that would be doing business in the state and to seek a fruitful partnership.

Irune expressed hope that the company would have a clean start with a view to building a healthy working relationship with the state government.

Earlier, at a meeting with first class traditional rulers in the state, the governor called on the Federal Government to respond to the flooding menace in the country by building dams and dredging the rivers.

He said the major river channels had become shallow and required dredging to enable them to increase the volume of water received.

Meanwhile, following an appeal by chairman of the state’s traditional rulers council and Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo, the governor announced the lifting of the suspension on the Obanema (paramount ruler) of Otuokpoti community in Ogbia Local Council, King Azibakayam Wongo.

He said collaboration between traditional institutions and the government was important in order to sustain the prevailing peace in the state.

Diri appreciated the monarchs for their support, assuring that the doors of his administration would always be open for their counsel, while urging them to live above board.

The Chairman of the traditional rulers council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, explained that the visit was to felicitate with the governor on his victory at the Supreme Court, saying it reflected the wishes of people of the state.

The monarch also appreciated him for working closely with the traditional rulers, expressing their readiness to continue to collaborate with the government for the development of the state.