By Ikhili Monday EBALU, Benin city
Three communities in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, issued a-30-day ultimatum to Seplat Development Petroleum Company to reverse the name of the Oben Oil and Gas Field to Obikobig Oil and Gas Field as instructed by late Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa in 2011 or face grave consequence.
Obazogbe-Nugu, Ikobi and Iguelaba said, Obikobig is a word coined from the first two initials of Obozogbe-Nugu, Ikobi, Oben and Iguelaba communities which its synergy makes up Oben Oil and Gas Field located in OML4, Oben in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state following the resolution of the late Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa in 2011.
This was contained in a press statement issued and signed by the leaders of the three communities, His Royal Highness, Evans Igbinigie Obamogie, the Enogie of Obozogbe-Nugu, Pa. Imafidon Igbinedion, the Odionwere of Ikobi and Pa. Ogunsuyi Iyare, the Odionwere of Iguelaba and made available to newsmen in Benin City.
The trio said the coining of the world Obikobig was to promote peace and unity among the four oil and gas host communities.
They also faulted the seven days ultimatum given to the oil firm by Oben Community an act which they described as personal aggrandizement.
“We hereby use this medium to condemn the action of Oben community in fronting for their personal interest, which is against the resolution of the late Benin monarch.
“We use this to tell the general public including federal, state, local governments and oil company (Seplat Development Company) that Oben oil and gas field does not solely belong to Oben community.
“In order to promote the desired peace and harmony in our region, the four thereby resolved, after carefully surveying the Moody’s operandi, we found out there seems to be an oita of personal aggrandizement perpetrated by Oben community because of the name of the oil field remains Oben oil and gas field.
“This will further promote the desired peace and harmony in our region.
“We thereby give Seplat thirty days ultimatum to reserve the name from Oben Oil and Gas Field to Obikobig Oil and Gas Field”, they said.
They also said that on the issue of the environmental impact assessment that they were not against negotiations for payment of compensation but it should not be done without the involvement of Obozogbe-Nugu, Ikobi, Oben, Iguelaba, Orogho both of Ugu ward and must done through the various communities heads, Enogie/Odionwere.
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