Bayelsa communities currently locked in legal battles over ownership of the disputed Elepa 1 and 2 Oil wells have accepted the decision reached by the State government to ensure peace and security in the area.
The communities claiming ownership of the Elepa Oilfields being operated by the Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, formerly SHELL, are Elepa, Nembe and Egweama in Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas of the state.
Addressing stakeholders of the communities at a meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo said government had endorsed the sharing formula recommended by the Irorodamie Komonibo-led Committee set up last year to mediate on the matter.
To this end, he announced the allocation of 40 percent of all royalties, employment chances and contractual jobs from Renaissance Africa Energy Company to Elepa, while Egweama and Nembe were allocated 30 percent each.
The Deputy Governor further directed that the three contractors engaged under the company’s Free To Operate (FTO) system for the supply of a tug boat, swamp buggy, and crew boat should come under one contract and share the profits accordingly based on the sharing formula.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, while commending the level-headedness of leaders and stakeholders of the area, explained that government’s position was informed by its overriding interest to ensure peace among the feuding communities.
He, however, urged them to talk to their people, especially the youth to maintain the existing peace, and patiently wait for the determination of the lawsuit over the ownership of the disputed Elepa 1 and 2 oil wells at the Court of Appeal.
His words: “We have carefully studied the recommendations in the report submitted by the Committee we set up sometime last year to look into your dispute, chaired by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Irorodamie Komonibo. As a little government, we have adopted the recommendation. So going forward, ELEPA community will have 40%, while Egwema and Nembe will get 30 percent each, pending when the Court will give judgment on the ownership case”.
Continuing, he stated “This decision was reached after a thorough consideration of a lot of factors involved, and I believe it is in the best interest of the communities and that of the state to make “this sacrifice,”
Responding separately on behalf of the communities, the Chairman of the Nembe Council of Chiefs, Chief Bright Ereware-Igbeta, the Paramount Ruler of Elepa Community, Chief Gelegukuma Apiri, and the CDC Chairman of Egweama Community, Mr. Tonye Yemoleigha, appreciated the relentless effort of the state government to ensure that there was peace among the three communities despite their conflict of interest.
While thanking government for the next parameters put in place in respect of employment opportunities and contracts, they agreed to remain peaceful, stressing there is no price too much to pay to enjoy peace.
Highpoint of the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Bayelsa State Government represented by the Deputy Governor and representatives of the three communities.
