The Federal House Of Representatives through its House Committee on Public Petition has threatened to issue a warrant on the Managing Director of SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY[SPDC] Mr Osagie Okunbor.

This followed the refusal of the company to honour invitation by the Committee On public Petitions of the House Of Representatives on three ocassions.
During the Committee sitting, the Chairman of the House of Representatives On Public Petitions Hon. Nkem Ozoma expressed dismay over the non-appearance of SHELL at the committee’s sitting on two occasions after the company was given prior notices.


This is clearly in pursuant Section 89[1][d] of the 1999 Constitution [as amended]-states that “for the purpose of any investigation under section 88 of this constitution and subject to the provision thereof,the senate or House of Representatives or a committee appointed in accordance with section 62 of this constitution shall-have power to issue warrant to any person to compel the attendance of person who after having been summoned to attend,fails,refuses or neglects to do so and does not excuse such failure,refusal or neglect to the satisfaction of the House or the committee in question………’’

This is a reminder that nobody is above the law and we are responsible for our action or inaction.

It could be recalled that the Akepilai Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State had petitioned SHELL over the Company’s refusal to honour Memorandum of understanding [MOU] entered into with the community since 2002.
Under the MOU, SHELL accepted to provide pipe borne water and electrification of Akepilai Community but flauted the agreement to provide pipe borne water project fourteen years after.

The community had written series of petition to the Bayelsa State Government through its Ministry of Environment but SHELL in its usual way ignored effort by the state Government for amicable settlement of the issue.

This development compelled the Community to further petition SHELL at the NATIONAL ASSEMBY Abuja but SHELL again dishonoured three invitations by the House to resolve the dispute, a situation which necessitated the chairman of the House Representatives Committee On Public Petition, Hon. Nkem Uzoma threaten to issue Warrant of On the Managing Director of SHELL Mr Osagie Okunbor.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Community Development Committee of Akipelai Community Mr Nelson Adaka has expressed disgust over the attitude of SHELL on the matter and has threatened to further the case until justice is done.

In the same vein, the IMIRINGI,OTUASEGA,ORUMA $ ELEBELE YOUTHS UNION had also through its president, Mr Igbila Sunday and Secretary, Mr Philip Geoffrey petitioned the National Assembly over the Blockage Of The Kolo Creek River In Ogbia Federal Constituency by NESTOIL PLC who are contractors to SHELL.

When the matter was called for second hearing at the committee’s sitting after failing to honour invitations twice, SHELL merely wrote a letter to the committee claiming not to have knowledge of the allegation by the youth organisation.This angered the chairman of the committee, Hon. Ozoma to threaten a warrant on the SHELL’s MD.
These operational lapses and divide and rule system by SPDC has multiplier effect on the socio-economic lives of its host communities.

For instance, the refusal of SPDC to respect MOU in providing Pipe borne water to Akipelai Community has exposed the community to epidemic which has claimed several lives.

Again, if urgent steps are not taken youths could take advantage of the scenario to disrupt the activities of SHELL in the Area. This is because this inaction of SPDC is major factor traceable to youth restiveness. The case of the Avengers Of The Niger Delta is classical example.

Mr Atim
SA Media To Hon S. Festus-Omoni
08063712919

The reason why nobody is afraid of the National Assembly is that the National Assembly itself is corrupt.
Look at the kind of news that emanates from lawmakers in recent weeks; Corruption, swxxual abuses, budget padding etc.
So where is the moral right to question other corrupt practices?
I wish this country can adopt the Chinese style of leadership where you get jailed or killed for small corrupt practices.
Animals require pressure to learn.

HOUSE OF ROGUES WANT TO OPEN OFFICE ON TOP OF THE MAN HEAD: BUT WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW IS THAT SHELL IS BETTER THIEF

It is this useless Multinationals that encourages militancy. Why promise when you know you won't redeem the promise??

You promised a community pipe borne water and electrification. And even signed a memorandum of understanding to that effect, but now after they gave you the peace of mind to complete your project, you are forming smart and gangster.

The House of Reps needs to seriously hammer Shell for this.

I'm very sure if the community youths have started destroying things and disrupting Shell's activities, they would have fulfilled their end of the agreement.

As a country, we must try as much as possible to pass the message to the youths that it is not only violence that brings the desired results and attention (most especially Niger Delta youths).

SamMilla1:
The reason why nobody is afraid of the National Assembly is that the National Assembly itself is corrupt.
Look at the kind of news that emanates from lawmakers in recent weeks; Corruotion, swxxual abuses, budget padding etc.
So where is the moral right to question other corrupt practices?
I wish this country can adopt the Chinese style of leadership where you get jailed or killed for small corrupt practices.
Animals require pressure to learn.

Exactly. Nobody takes our National Assembly serious because they are bunch of corrupt people. I'm not supporting the refusal of Shell to honour the MOU though.

Brb

House of jokers

GEJ did not try at all. How could he stay there and a part of his state is suffering in d hands of foreigners and nothing is done. How I wish he was opportune to go to Akpabio's home town and see how he put the adage - charity begins at home at work.,instead he was busy looking for second term and blow d chances to put few things in it's right place in Niger Delta. To national assembly, all I can say is that they shld clean their house so that other will take them serious

The bribe no dey enter as before.. Hehehehehe corrupt pack

Na oil abi na coke pour the photocopied documents like dat ni...

Thieves dey threaten to arrest thief

See disregard for our govt.

The most corrupt arm of government is the National Assembly!!

Even God uses the devil to make some people return back to him. I DON'T TRUST NIGERIAN LEADERS.

The only reason the NASS is calling on the MD is to line their personal pockets with money. Greedy thieves.

but local government no dey to do borehole for that community..though i am not absolving shell of their community responsibilities too..

when would our governments provide water for its people

these oil companies have no regard for their host communities, what will it take shell to agree to the MOU?, they are just greedy, and I blame our government because they can't try things like this in other countries, My people say na mud house wey fall na im make goat fit go climb the roof

This is one of too many, so many host communities don't have Basic amenities. Ohaji-Egbema LGA Imo State where I came from is the worst, no one from the state or FG... For how long are we going to wait

Hmmm

n