Olu of Warri condemn attack on Chevron pipeline, sue for calm

His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri has condemned strongly the recent attack on oil pipeline belonging Chevron at Dibi-Olero-Abiteye trunk line and Flow Stations and sue for calm.

Recall that a group which tagged itself as Niger Delta Liberation Movement, NDLM had claimed responsibility for bursting several pipeline.

But reacting to incident, official Sole Representative of the Olu of Warri/Liaison to NNPCL, Prince Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema in press statement while absolving the Itsekiri’s from the attack noted that their agitation for a better deal for the Itsekiri should not be associated with the action of the NDLM.

Edema said the Itsekiri will continue to engage and explore peaceful process in ensuring that they are given fare share in terms of employment and infrastructural development.

He said, “It has come to the knowledge of the Sole Representative of the Olu of Warri/Liaison Officer to NNPCL and it JV partners that there is palpable air of disenchantment with Chevron Nigeria Limited over issues of employment of people of the host communities particularly in the three Warri ‘s of Warri South West, Warri North and Warri South, an advocacy, the office has actively been dragging with Chevron to accommodate Itsekiri people .

“We wish to condemn in the strongest terms the destruction of the pipeline belonging to Chevron Movement (NDLM). We wish to state categorically that the NDLM is not known to us and the Nigeria Limited (CNL) in Dibi-Olero-Abiteye Fields now claimed by the Niger Delta Liberation Itsekiri Nation.

“The attack on Chevron pipeline Facilities is alien to the ideology of the struggle of the Itsekiri Nation to get a better deal for our people in terms of employment, infrastructure, and welfare.

“While His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the Olu or Warri empathizes with Chevron over the recent attack on its pipelines in the Dibi-Olero-Abiteye trunk line and Flow Stations, it is
important to use this opportunity to appeal to our youths to remain calm as this office is actively engaging Chevron over unresolved unemployment issues.

“We understand that our youths are frustrated over the situation that portrays that Chevron is taking people from Host Communities for granted but such frustration cannot be allowed to
metamorphose into such lawless behavior as attacking critical assets by any of our people.

“We restate our commitment to a safe and warm operational environment to Chevron and other out perpetrators of the pipeline destruction. IOCs in Itsekiriland even as we trust that security agencies will spare no stone unturned in fishing out perpetrators of Pipeline destruction.

“However, It is also noteworthy to mention that the condemnable incident is not connected to the legal channels our people have been exploring to addressing lingering employment issues with Chevron”.