Bayelsa Community gives Aiteo Quit notice over marginalization
From Amos Odeh
The people of Opu NEMBE in Nembe Local government area of Bayelsa state penultimate weekend gave Aiteo quit notice over national economic sabotage ,strangulation of host communities,contract racketeering and corporate wickedness saying that with $1bn chest ,Aiteo owner,Peters acquires platinum mine in Zimbabwe Bravura holdings ltd, owned by Nigerian billionaire Benedict Peters,has $1 billion available for the development of platinum mine in Zimbabwe, its country manager said.The 3,000 hectare ( 7,413 – acre ) concession where it plans to dig the mine in selous,80 kilometers (50 miles) South of Zimbabwe, s capital Harare and close to existing platinum.
Addressing a world press conference, chief (prof ) Danfembo Derri who was flanked by other chiefs adorned in black atire, symbolizing mourning and in a press statement that was signed by chief Oriango Ekpeleyai Oruwari and chief Ivory Fikoru articulated their grievances against Aiteo Eastern Exploration and production company ltd , a very queer company imposed upon their land as the joint venture operator of Nigeria,s most historic and highest onshore producing oil mining lease ( OML ) 29 , despite their strong objection from the start .
They alleged that for five years since Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria surreptitiously sold OML 29 to Aiteo without any consideration of host communities, pending legal and equitable rights ,in order to escape the legacy of economic rape and environmental liabilities, it has been anguish on all sides to the communities.
Accordingly, the communities are tired of Aiteo,s punishment and it has become unbearable which necessitated a peacefully occupy of the Santa Barbara Flow station and Odeama Field Flow station in protest since 14th November 2020.
Their grouse also include failures by relevant government agencies to treat their the petitions they sent to them for redress as most of the officials and regulatory agencies have felt unconcerned.
They further stated that with frustration and exasperated , the communities leadership in solidarity with its protesting youths have to address this world press conference to issue this quit notice to Aiteo and their fraudulent front contractors,so they can stop trespassing their territory and leave promptly.
They therefore urged Aiteo to renegotiate lease terms for community land acquired for operations and terms for community content/participation, environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
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