Health Of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, has urged the people of Okoro-Utip in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State to unite in their quest for justice from government and oil companies operating in their locality.
The call came in the wake of reported incidences of sabotage and division which had stalled efforts in bringing the government and the oil companies to account over environmental degradation in the community.
Speaking during a ‘Cycle of Reflection’ meeting with farmers at Okoro Utip Community Hall, the Project Lead of HOMEF, Stephen Oduware noted that the oil companies thrive on blackmail, intimidations and divide and rule tactics among the locals to dissuade them from fighting for their rights.
He recalled how the community was cowered and militarized in the past when the people attempted to protest against persistent gas flaring and non-employment of their youths and women in the companies, saying that if the people had marched in one voice, the oil companies would not have succeeded in intimidating them.
Oduware, therefore, encouraged them to re-strategize in oneness and demand what is due them saying that HOMEF as an organisation cannot fight for them in their absence.
His words, “Today we are tasking the people of Okoro-Utip on community solidarity, we want to bring them to a point where they will unite for a particular cause and demand what is due them.
“You cannot fight for the community in their absence, so they have to know the rudiments and intrigues on how to go about it, to demand justice and stop gas flaring and other social injustices.
“These companies thrive on blackmail, on disunity, intimidation and fear. We can recall when the community people came out to protest and the whole place was militarized, army came with chopper.
“Those are actually signals to put fear into them but we want to assure them that when you are united, you will have victory.”
Also speaking, Coordinator of Peace Point Development Foundation, PPDF, Comrade Umoh Isuah-Ikoh, advised the community to lay aside all forms of self-centeredness, and ethnic or cultural differences, and fight in solidarity to ensure that their environment is restored and that they are fully compensated for the impact of gas flaring and oil spills in their farmlands.
“You only succeed when all of you speak with one voice in the interest of the community and not for your personal interest,” he said.
He also encouraged them to live beyond gender biases and support the women to be part of the cause for the overall interest of the people.
