6th June, 2012
Bonny youths from Bonny Island, Rivers State, the host community to the multi-billion niara Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas company, NLNG, have vowed to shut down the company.
The youths are angry over the absence of Rivers indigenes especially those from the Bonny ethnic group on the NLNG 2012 Technicians Training and Employment list recently made available to the public.
NLNG recently listed 33 names as beneficiaries of its 2012 Technicians Training and Employment programme but left out the names of Rivers indigenes for reasons described by some persons as a wanton display of impunity.
Some of the youths who expressed their displeasure over the development said they are more than ready to fight the matter to its logical end.
One of the Bonny youths, Thompson Beresiri, who was obviously incensed said “this injustice must stop. Our leaders have continued to look the other way while our rights are infringed upon by these companies.
“The issue of local content has been flawed because government has demonstrated lack of political will to tackle the matter head on. However, youths are now prepared to do it their own way to ensure they safeguard their future.”
Similarly, Silas Hailsham who also hails from Bonny reminded the gas company that indigenes of the island are the ones left to suffer the pains of dangerous gas emission resulting in acid rain and degraded environment, and expressed disappointment that the people are not benefiting from gainful empowerment programmes instituted by the company.
According to a clergy man in the area who craved anonymity, “you can see that the list is lacking in local content. This people lost their mind and memory when compiling this list or better still the Nigerian factor played out well to the exclusion of those who should at most benefit from this employment considering that they are mostly impacted by the negative effects of gas flaring and the attendant hazard of gradual elimination.”
The Leader of Bonny Youth Federation, Mr. Gift Furo in his remark said furiously: “I don’t want to believe this is true. We have seen the list and have instituted a showdown meeting with the management of NLNG to further know why out of the 33 persons selected no Bonny or Rivers indigene was considered.
“I think it is the right thing to do as a responsible youth body before going further with other options”.
He said, the list on display is nothing but a charade that shall never be accepted.
Furo urged the youths to calm down while the dialogue option is exhausted, promising to do all within his powers to ensure that NLNG does the right thing.
Sources reveal that the Rivers state governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the State Security Service, (SSS), state police commissioner, army brigade commander among others have been contacted to intervene in the matter to prevent the youths from taking to the streets in protest.
Attempt by some sections of the press to get the management of the company to comment on the development proved furile.
The Bonny youth leader has assured that the showdown talk with management will further clarify the matter.
Below is the final list of names without any Rivers state indigene:
NLNG 2012 TECHNICIANS TRAINING/EMPLOYMENT LIST
1. Sule Ukioyaoge Pius
2. Akinrodoye Ibidapo
3. Anyachor Ekene Emeka
4. Oyelola Oladele Tayo
5. Igbinigie Efosa Rchard
6. Raheem Seyi Samson
7. Adedipe Oluwaseun Adeniran
8. Daudu Cosmas Dominic
9.Oviri Eloho
10.Unueguare Enide Israel
11.Adu John Opeyemi
12.Peter Emmanuel
13.Shaibu Ozigi Abraham
14.Edwin Umukoro
15.Agu Chinazom
16.Onose Orioriode
17.Lasisi Tajudeen
18.Essien Emmanuel
19.Atolagbe Babatunde
20.Afieroho Onorievaoghene
21.Aghanti Chukwuka Gabriel
22.Udeh Kingsley
23.Guobadia Osagie
24.Ogweda Adam Haruna
25.Phan Edidiong samuel
26.Oseri Blessing
27.Adebola Rasheed
28.Onyendi Albert
29.Oyenkunle Oyeyemi
30.Shoyedi Olujide
31.Iroha Paul
32.Ezeh Patrick
33.Alabi Peter
—Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt