Chief accuses Belema Oil of funding illegal closure of OML 25

The Amanyanabo of Belema and Chairman of Belema Council of Chiefs, His Royal Highness (HRH), Ibinabo Kalaoriye has accused the Chairman of Belema Oil, Tein Jackrich and his associates of economic sabotage over the negative roles they played on the illegal closure of Oil Mining License ( OML) 25 by sponsored groups.

He urged the Federal Government to prosecute them for the premeditated economic sabotage.

HRH Ibinabo Kalaoriye also declared that the Chairman of Belema Oil, Tein Jackrich through his proxies sponsored the daily feeding and logistics of the illegal occupants of OML 25 for over two years.

The Amanyanabo of Belema stated the position of the primary host community of OML 25 in a press statement titled: “Re-Opening of OML 25 Flow Station: The Belema Community Position “.

He said: “On several occasions as a community we sound it loud and clear that funds, food items and other logistics use for the daily upkeep of the illegal occupants are provided by Mr Tein Jackrich Jr, through the Acting General Manager of the Belema Oil and Gas Ltd, Engr Mufa-a Welsh to Gibson Suku Tyger alias Suku Daddy who in turn will pass on to them (illegal occupants) since July 17, 2017 to date. No doubt this has no small measure promoted militancy in our creeks and the whole of the Niger Delta region.

“And it is also on record that as part of the Social Corporate Responsibility (SCR), SPDC has handed over the following projects to me as the Amanyanabo of the community namely; portable drinking water, power generating set/electrification and water treatment plant. However, employment was offered to some youths in the community to oversee the said projects. Pictures were taken during the handing over ceremony.
“Once more we call on the federal government and the security agencies to bring the perpetrators of the evil act to the book”.

He commended the Federal Government, the Rivers State Government and SPDC for the negotiations and efforts that culminated in the re-opening of the flow station shutdown by Belema Oil and her associates.

He said: “As a community, we are very much happy that after two (2) years of the closure of the OML 25 flow station by illegal occupants, the federal and the Rivers State governments had intervened to ensure that peace reign in our community.
“We do hope that the re-opening of the OML 25 flow station will bring massive development to the Belema Community and thus put shame on both the sponsors and the illegal occupants of the OML 25 flow station.

“Belema as a community is autonomous and has traditional structure namely: the Chiefs Council, Community Development Committee (CDC), the Youth body and Women Group which, are recognized by the government. The Belema Community is a member of AKULGA Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, which Kula Community is also a member. However, there are a series of court judgments, which confirm these. The SPDC and the Rivers State Government are also aware of the court judgments.

“Let me a place on record that nobody was instrumental to the re-opening of the OML 25 flow station except the Federal Government, Rivers State Government, NNPC and the SPDC which owe the facilities. Belema Community has never one day agreed with any company including Belema Oil and Gas Limited, Belema Oil Producing Ltd, and J+J Company to do anything in the name of Belema community in the area”.

The Chairman, Belema Council of Chiefs regretted that funds meant for the development of Belema Community, the primary host community of OML 25, have been diverted to sister communities.

He said: “We want Belema Community to develop to megacity and not to divert the funds meant for the development of Belema to the sister communities. It is very sad to note, money belonging to the Belema has been cornered by Kula Community who accuses SPDC of not doing anything. This was one of the reasons why SPDC will sign a separate GMoU with the Belema Community for onward development to make it a megacity.

“In 2014, there was a GMoU SPDC signed with the Belema and other communities which was never be implemented because of series of crisis in Kula Community. Belema Community is peaceful and calm. No member of our community is involved in the closing down of the OML 25 flow station”.

He declared that Tein Jackrich and his associates are placing calls and visiting his family residence, thereby putting him at risk.

“With the series of calls I am receiving every day and several personal visits to my Port Harcourt residence, I am beginning to have fear of my life and that of my family. As far as I am concerned I have no business with the above-mentioned Persons, therefore, if anything happens to me and any member of my family, these aforementioned persons should be held responsible. The security agencies should please take note. No doubt the closure of the OML 25 flow station has caused the economic problem in the community. It is right to state here that the illegal occupants and their sponsors are economic saboteurs”, he said.