Delta State has directed the management of OML 26 Asset Management Team (AMT) to recognise Wilson Obuke and seven other persons as the legitimate presiding officers of Okpaile Community in Isoko North Local Government Area of the state, pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.
The directive follows a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Ministry of Oil and Gas in Asaba on Wednesday, to address the lingering leadership dispute in the oil-producing community and concerns over the operation of OML 26.
Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Peter Uviejitobor, who presided over the meeting, said the OML 26 management had a duty to comply with an order of the state High Court sitting in Ozoro, recognising Obuke and the seven others, pending the determination of the substantive matter.
Uviejitobor said the state government has had previously instructed the asset management team to comply with the court ruling, expressing concern that the directive has allegedly not been implemented.
He stressed that the government would not tolerate actions capable of undermining the rule of law or peace in host communities.
“As a government institution, we must not only respect the rule of law but we must ensure that the rule of law is respected,” the commissioner said.
He described the alleged failure of the OML 26 AMT to comply with the court order and respond to an earlier government directive as unfortunate.
“The failure of the management of the OML 26 AMT to comply with the directive and respond to an earlier government directive is rather unfortunate and can be taken for an affront on the government of Delta State,” he said.
The commissioner consequently directed the OML 26 operator to recognise Obuke and the seven other leaders as the community’s presiding officers pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The operator was also instructed to submit to the Ministry of Oil and Gas an updated report on its implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), particularly as it relates to the operation and administration of OML 26.
Uviejitobor said the intervention is part of the state government’s efforts to strengthen relations between oil companies and their host communities, promote peaceful coexistence and ensure that communities hosting oil assets received the benefits due to them.
The meeting was triggered by a September 2 letter from the executive of Okpaile Community requesting the intervention of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori in the leadership crisis.
In addition to the leadership question, stakeholders raised concerns over the obligations of the OML 26 operator to its host communities.
President-General of Ozoro Community, Chief Beckley Asiafa, described the meeting as peaceful and productive, saying the leadership disagreement was essentially a dispute between two members of the same community.
“The meeting was fine and quiet. The meeting was about Ozoro Kingdom and it was about two brothers that had problem and the court gave a verdict and the verdict given by the court has not been obeyed for sometime,” Asiafa said.
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He also raised concerns about alleged outstanding obligations to communities within the OML 26 operational area, which covers Ozoro, Ellu, Ovrode and Ofagbe.
According to him, some of the obligations owed the communities have allegedly remained unmet for more than two years.
Asiafa commended the Ministry of Oil and Gas for stepping into the matter, saying the intervention had provided greater clarity on the steps required to resolve the issues.
The state government further directed all parties and stakeholders to maintain peace and preserve the status quo pending the resolution of the matter through the appropriate legal process.
