By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
The Paramount Ruler of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, Edidem Udo Obom has called on both State and Federal government to intervene on the spate of environmental pollutants emitted by oil companies.
Obom made the call in Ikot Abasi after the inauguration of the Executive members of the Akwa Ibom Oil Producing Communities Developement Network, AKIPCON, on Tuesday.
He said that the continuous gas flaring and washing off of crude tanks into the water bodies which are then distributed to order adjioning rivers are not global best practices.
He lamented that his subjects have been exploited, cheated and deprived by oil giants who continue their exploration without paying adequate compensation to the people.
He expressed worry that most of the aquatic lives and animals have gone into extinction and appealed to both the state and federal government to order oil companies to end gas flaring and pay adequate compensation to the people as its obtained in other countries of the world.
The Monarch declared that the Council has unanimously thrown its weight behind AKIPCON who have been at the forefront of struggles for the liberation and payment of all outstanding compensation to the communities.
“ExxonMobil and Shell are paying deaf ears to us, but obviously their own government have seen that they are wrong with their actions.
“They have deprived us of all things. Our farmlands and aquatic lives have been destroyed and many animals have gone into extinct out of abundance of pollution.” He said.
Also speaking, AkIPCON President General Dr Phenson Ufot called for the arrest of the management of oil companies who are in the habit of violating human right and the international best practices.
