Posted by thephctelegraph on
Apparently dismayed by the incessant incidents of hostage taking in the Niger Delta region, the Chairman of the Rivers State council.....
Apparently dismayed by the incessant incidents of hostage taking in the Niger Delta region, the Chairman of the Rivers State council of Traditional Rulers and Amanyanabo of Bonny, King Edward Dappa Pepple has called on companies operating in the region to show more concern for the well-being of their host communities.
King Dappa Pepple who condemned the attitude of some oil prospecting companies to their host communities noted that findings, especially within Rivers State, have shown that most of the so-called kidnappings were mere expressions of frustrations and bottled-up anger over neglect and outright failure to implement Memorandum of Understanding between communities and recalcitrant oil firms operating in the state.
The Royal Father noted that negotiations, leading to the unconditional release of such hostages in the past, pointed to the fact that often than not, the .oil firms were to blame as they brazenly refuse to honour MOU's to the detriment of their host communities.
The Monarch noted that while Traditional Rulers would continue to preach against the use of violence and kidnapping in achieving demands, time was up for government to read the riot act to such erring oil firms who by their acts of omission and commission are turning youths into barbarians.
King Dappa Pepple urged the youths to shun the temptation to resort to violence in pressing for their demands and expressed confidence in the pragmatic efforts of the President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to ensure that the many years of neglect of the Niger Delta would soon become a thing of the past: