By Obiabin Onukwugha
People of Uhunwonde local government area and Okomu community in Ovia South West LGA, has alleged Okomu Oil Palm Company of land grabbing and employing divide and rule tactics to destroy their livelihoods.
This was disclosed during the just concluded two-days sensitisation programme on Roundtable for Sustainable Oil Palm (RSPO) document organised by Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF).
In their separate comments, Abdulahi Hajaratu who represented Uhunwonde local government area, and Akpokiniovo Rex who represented Okomu community in Ovia South West LGA, respectively, accused Okomu Oil Palm Company of land grabbing amd employing divide and rule tactics to destroy their livelihoods.
The event which held last weekend had several communities from Ovia North East, Ovia South West and Uhunmwonde local government area, representatives from the Edo State ministry of Agriculture, civil society organizations, student environmental groups and other stakeholders, in attendance.
In an experience sharing segment, the community representatives shared their experiences on the conducts of Okomu Oil Palm Company, complaining that their rights have been trampled upon on different levels, as people in host communities now live as slaves in their own land.
In his presentation, the CODAF Director of Campaigns and Administration, Maimoni Mariere Ubrei-Joe, explained how the RSPO principles and key criteria can be applied by local communities in holding oil palm plantations accountable, in respect to the provisions of the RSPO document and its deliverables.
He exposed the community representatives to the content of the principles of the RSPO document.
He also highlighted the need for operating companies to deliver benefits to the community, respect their rights, to support small holder inclusion, respect worker’s rights and to protect ecosystems.
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He added that the program will bring to the attention of palm oil companies who are RSPO certified to understand that their violations of local communities’ human rights and environmental concerns need to be addressed urgently, and this can be done through sensitizing the people and raising their voices to be able to file a complaint against these companies, using the RSPO as a tool for accountability.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of Community Forest Watch, Sunday Ajele, regretted that Okomu Oil Palm Company was taking community peoples right for granted because of the huge revenue it pays to the state government.
“How do you expect a company that is paying twelve billion naira tax to the state to behave responsibly? If there is any complaint against the company, the government always protects the company, which enslaves the people they are supposed to protect. The testimonies of the communities are nothing but the truth but there is nobody to listen to them? When thy try to speak up, they send security agencies to arrest and harass them,” he said.
According to him, it is difficult for the people to fight against the company because of their “divide-and-rule” tactics which has turned the people against one another.
He called on the communities to come together to speak with one voice, while filing a complaint against the company in accordance with the RSPO document.
Sharing similar experiences in Liberia and how the RSPO document can be used to seek justice, the Program Manager of Community Rights and Corporate Governance Program of Sustainable Development Institute/ Friends of the Earth Liberia, James Otto stated that the RSPO was designed to help communities fight against injustice and human rights abuses from Oil Palm companies.
Otto pointed out that the first step of utilizing the RSPO is for communities to gather information about the company, their shareholders and agencies/bodies backing them up, and the tactics they use to carry out their activities.
According to him, this information gathering will also help the community gather evidence against the company, which will be relevant in fighting these corporations by filing a formal complaint to the RSPO against the company.
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was established in 2004 by green organisations (e.g. WWF) in response to the negative consequences of the overwhelming global demand for palm oil.
It provides that the production of palm oil must not cause deforestation or damage any area required to protect or enhance High Conservation Value (HCV) or High Carbon Stock (HCS) forest. Its aim is to preserve nature and wildlife.
