Eleme Communities Lament Years of Marginalization, Present Memoranda to Presidential Dialogue Committee

By Obiabin Onukwugha

Communities in Eleme local government area of Rivers State have lamented years of marginalization by multinational oil companies and the federal government.

Leadership of the communities spoke at a Townhall meeting by the Ogoni Dialogue Committee in continuation of the ongoing grassroots consultations and dialogue between the federal government and the people of Ogoni for oil resumption.

Making his presentation on behalf of the Eleme people, the traditional ruler of Eleme, King Phillip Osaro Obele, said Eleme is the host to most of the oil companies in Nigeria, yet have suffered neglect over the years.

The monarch lamented that the result of oil exploration in Eleme Kingdom has been that of woes, criminality and abject poverty. He said: “Today is historic in the lives of Ogoni people and in the lives of Eleme people. We are here gathered after many years of marginalization to see that things are done the proper way it is supposed to be done. Eleme is the host to most of the oil companies in Nigeria. Eleme can be regarded as the hub of Nigerian economy, after Lagos.

“Eleme story and fate has been a catalogue of woes and hopelessness for no other reason than our ethnic minority status and lack of proper representation both at the federal and state levels of power. It is the story of a people whose problems, though well articulated and quite excruciating, successive administrations have given less attention.

“Therefore Eleme has over the past years watched helplessly as our natural resources, farmlands and mineral oils were being carted away by the multinational companies, thereby leaving them to reap massive unemployment, increasing crime rates, social degradation, abject poverty and environmental pollution arising from industrial noise. Reckless oil exploration and exploitation of our people. Infact the situation in Eleme is highly deplorable, depressing, desperate, very critical and requires urgent attention.”

He, therefore emphasised the need for unity between Eleme and the Ogonise and called on the committee to articulate on the demands in the memoranda and ensure that the issues of Eleme are considered. “Eleme people should not see themselves to be quite different from the Ogoni people. There is no difference between Ogoni man and an Eleme man, therefore let us see ourselves as brothers and let us ensure that we cooperate and ensure that whatever thing we are doing here today we will remember each other and do it accordingly for the betterment of our people,”he stated.

Presenting the position of Women of Eleme, Her Majesty, Queen Evelyn Ada-Gokpa, lamented the impact of oil exploration activities on the live of Eleme women. She said: “Eleme people are suffering, especially the women. The towns of Eleme have women and we are all farmers. We go to farm and we produce our crops and sell our crops to feed. From there we train our children, but right now there are no crops in Eleme, no food in Eleme because of oil. This is the result of oil. So I want to tell the committee to tell our President to know and recognise Eleme women, that we are suffering. Give us what we have written here.”

Earlier in his address, the Co-Chairman of the ODC, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey, thanked the people of Eleme for their peaceful disposition that paved way for the Townhall meeting. He said the signing of the law for the establishment is of the Federal University of Environment and Technology in Ogoni by President Bola Tinubu as part of the confidence building, is a testament to commitment and promise to brighter future for Ogoni children and communities.

He said: “Today as we gather in this noble assembly, we bow are heads in thank you to Almighty God for keeping Eleme in one peace. This is a blessing for change, for in unity lied our strength. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our President, His Excellency Bola Tinubu for initiating the dialogue process that has paved the way for healing and reconciliation. The signing into law the bill establishing the Federal University of Environment and Technology in Ogoni as part of the confidence building is a testament to his commitment and promise to brighter future for our children and community.

“I will like to extend my appreciation to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for orchestrating this important dialogue and the governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Siminilayi Fubara who has proven to be a true brother and friend to Ogoni people.

“To the people of Eleme, I offer my deepest gratitude for your peaceful disposition through our this period of community engagement. Your commitment to dialogue has brought us to this Townhall meeting, vital part to the grassroots communications led by the the Ogoni Dialogue Committee regarding the resumption of oil activities in Ogoniland.

“This is the moment for communities to present their memoranda. This contributions will form the backbone of our final position for negotiations , allowing us to address the years of neglect and environmental pollution that has altered our ecosystem as highlighted in the UNEP report on Ogoni. Together we are to pave the way to economic revamp.”

All the communities which make up Eleme, including Ogale, Alesa, Aleto, Agbonchia, Akpajo, Alesa, Aloge, Ebubu, One, Ekporo, and Ete’o, and as well as vsrious interest groups took turns to resent memoranda, urging the committee to ensure the demands are met.

Since President Bola Tinubu set up a committee headed by National Security, Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to interface with the Ogoni people in order to resolve the lingering issues in the area, the Committee has been holding Townhall meetings with a view to collating the various interests and yearnings of the people. This is to ensure that no persons or group of persons are left out in the process.

Photo caption: King Phillip Osaro Obele making his presentation at the Town Hall meeting in Eleme. Credit: Obiabin Onukwugha