Posted by The Port Harcourt Telegraph on
The four flow stations shut down by Kula community in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State in the heat of the face-off between Chevron Texaco and Shell Petroleum Development Company on one hand and the local people have been reopened for production as Christmas/New Year gift to Governor Odili.
The four flow stations shut down by Kula community in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State in the heat of the face-off between Chevron Texaco and Shell Petroleum Development Company on one hand and the local people have been reopened for production as Christmas/New Year gift to Governor Odili.
The reopening of the flow stations was communicated to the Governor of Rivers State in a statement signed by Chief Dan Opusingi, the ruler and spokesman of Kula kingdom.
According to the statement, the reopening of the Chevron Texaco flow Station was in appreciation of Governor Odili's kind gesture in turning the fortune of kula community for the better.
In the wake of the flow station imbroglio, the state government drafted senior officials to visit kula over five times to investigate the peoples' agitation, the statement noted.
The kula community ruler explained that the state government donated two 500KVA Perkins generating sets to illuminate the kingdom.
Women were given N10 million grant to extenuate their precarious circumstance and liberate them from poverty.
The had governor also approved the appointment of two sons of the community as director in Civil Service and special assistant.
Chief Opusingi described the appointment of Mr. Dimabo Oruama as Commissioner representing Rivers State in Niger Delta Development Commissioner (NDDC) as a bombshell in the series of gestures that looked like dream at first
The statement further acknowledged that because of Governor Odili's sustained interest in the development and advancement of kula kingdom, the oil companies that had neglected the community for over 45 years have started talking under the direct supervision of the governor, leading to the eventful signing of Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between Chevron Texaco and Kula, the host community.
They maintained that Governor Odili, had shown irrevocable commitment to the quest of kula kingdom and so the community has allowed Chevron Texaco to resume operations again.
Continuing, Chief Opusingi challenged anybody or group with contrary claim of ownership to shut down the reopened stations or reopen shut down ones belonging to SPDC.
It would be recalled that Kula community closed down four flow stations, two gas booster plants and a gas injection plant, to protest what it described as 'long term neglect by oil companies for more than forty-six years".
The affected stations are Robert kiri flow station producing 32,000 barrels per day, Belema-43,000, Ekulama one- 36,000, Ekulama two- 62,000, Belema Gas Injunction Plant- 38,766, Ekulama I & II with 70,650 MMSCF gas per day.