OML 30: Call Delta Attorney General, Mrakpor To Order, Youth Groups Tells Okowa

A coalition of youths from Ijaw, Isoko, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic extractions in Oil Mining Licence (OML30) host communities, Delta state, have called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to call the State’s Attorney General, Mr. Peter Mrakpor to order over his meddlesome on the Oil Mining Licence, OML 30 pipeline surveillance contract crisis.

The group accused Mrakpor of allegedly trying to serve the interest of some failed contractors who were managing the Heritage OML 30 surveillance contract but failed to deliver.

They claimed that Mrakpor had in a letter dated August 13, 2020 and signed by Mr Omamuzo Erebe, purported that Heritage Operational Services surveillance and assets security contract is being carried out by an non-indigenous contractor.

The development, the group claimed have heightened tension in the communities.

The youths, in a statement on Thursday signed by Prince Brakemi (Ijaw), Gbubemi Toriseju (Itsekiri), Zino Oke (Isoko)and Dennis Okpako (Urhobo), alleged that the said claims by the Attorney General is totally wrong and does not reflect the true position on ground.

The statement reads in part, “As youth leaders from the OML 30 Communities, while we appreciate the state government concern in protecting the rights of host communities with respect to the issues of non-payment of GMOU project funds, manpower services, staff audit and payment of contractors,  we wish to state clearly that the position taken by the office of the Attorney General with respect to the issue of surveillance and assets security contractor is totally wrong and does not reflect the position on ground.

“The true position is that the surveillance and assets security contract is been carried out by people recruited by the respective OML 30 host communities with expertise and equipment provided by OMS Security Services Limited.

“It is important to note that the entire OMS operations is controlled and managed by Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko and Urhobo people from the OML 30 host communities in Delta State and not non-indigenous as the Attorney General’s office would want public to believe. 

“Since OMS Security Services took over the management of the surveillance of OML 30 assets with 100 percent workforce from the OML 30 communities, the incidents of destruction of oil facilities has drastically reduced, the oil production quantum from OML 30 oil fields and the Transforcados Trunk line has massively increased unlike the situation before OMS Security Services Limited took over the assets security.

“It is on record that Transforcados trunk line used to be under constant attack from vandals and oil thieves with the resultant reduction in the revenue of the Federation and the Delta State Government but all that has changed since OMS took over with increase oil revenue. 

“We the youths of the OML 30 Communities are comfortable with the present surveillance and asset management structure which is under the control of mainly youths from the communities with OMS security services limited providing technical support with entirely people from Delta State managing the affairs.

“Therefore, the letter from the Attorney General’s office does not seek to protect community interest on the issue of surveillance contractor but the interest of some failed contractors who were managing the Heritage OML 30 surveillance contract but failed to deliver.

“We are wondering if the Attorney General prefer the situation where there was persistent vandalization of the OML 30 facilities or the present situation where the facilities are safely protected under the management of OMS services with community people. Whose interest is the Attorney General even serving? Is that of Delta State or his business partners?

“We the Youths of OML 30 Communities wish to call on the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to warn and call the Attorney General,  Mr. Mrakpor to order so as not to incur the wrath of the youths of the OML 30 host communities. 

“As youths and beneficiaries of the OML 30 Heritage surveillance and asset security job, we are hereby giving the Attorney General of Delta State 14 days ultimatum to withdraw his letter to Heritage Operational Services Limited with respect to the surveillance and asset security contract or we shall embark on mass protest against him for promoting the interest of his business partners at the expense of the state”, the youths warned.

It would be recalled that some communities leaders, during a courtesy visit to the Attorney General, had accused Heritage Oil Company of awarding pipeline surveillance and other maintenance services contracts to foreigners and their cronies, thereby totally neglecting the principle of local content which was part of the GMOU that was signed by the parties.

Reports say the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrakpor, who expressed sadness over the development, however, assured the communities leaders that Government would urgently wade into the matter and it would be resolved as soon as possible to forestall breach of the peace in the state and disruption of oil production.