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By Raphael Ekpang
Considering the level of neglect the people of Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency in Delta State have suffered over the years, Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi has revealed that the oil companies in the region are behind the crisis ravaging the communities under his constituency, saying that they sponsored crisis using divide and rule method.
However, the Okpai born lawmaker has stated that it’s not going to be business as usual because the oil companies know that he knows what they know, and couple with the fact that the leadership of the 10th House of Reps under Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas who is committed to enhancing living condition of Nigerians in the six geopolitical regions through legislation won’t allow that to continue again.
Hon Ezechi who was visibly angry with the way Oil companies have dealt with hosts communities across the Niger Delta region, in a chat with selected journalists in Abuja on Tuesday said, he was elected to represent his people, noting that nothing under his representation would be swept under the carpet, including how oil companies are causing crisis among hosts communities just for their selfish interest.
This, was sequel to a motion he sponsored “Need to Address the Absence of Power Supply in Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency of Delta State.”
In the motion he noted that Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency is host to the 960 megawatts Okpai Independent Power Plant, which plays a significant role in supplying electricity to Anambra, Enugu and Abuja, making it a crucial asset for the nation’s power distribution system.
He added despite its significant role in power supply as well as hosting several Oil Companies including the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Sterling Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO), Midwestern Oil and Gas limited, Energia limited, Pillar Oil limited, Chorus Energy limited, communities in Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal constituency lack electricity supply, which is impeding socio-economic progress in the area.
He explained that oil companies when the know that it will cost them 100million dollars to construct a road for the communities, they will prefer to use 10million dollars to fuel crisis among them and at the end they’ll keep back 90million dollars to themselves while the communities wallop in abject poverty.
He said, “The question is that why is it that all hosts communities are in crisis? Because, the oil companies are strongly behind it, they don’t want to help develop hosts communities, therefore they adopted divide and rule method where a few leaders are empowered to cause crisis in their various communities.
“”With this motion, the Oil companies don’t need to be advice to start doing the right thing because they know, I know what they know and I will go all out for them inorder to give my constituents a true representation they deserve.
“It will interest you to note that even my own community Okpai that plays host to Agip and other oil companies, go there and you will see nothing to ride home about. But, I want to assure you that henceforth any leadership in my constituency who come to make money in the expense of the communities’ progress won’t have it easy again, definitely they would have me to contend with,” he said.
Hon. Ezechi also disclosed that before he moved the motion, he consulted widely to all concern stakeholders that is why, the motion was referred immediately to the House committee on TCN and power to expedite action, investigate and make appropriate recommendations to the house.
