By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
Kolokolo Community in Ologbo Dukedom , Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State has sent Save Our Soul, SOS, to Edo State Government and His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare 11 over the neglect of the community by Sahara Energy Resort Limited.
The Community in a protest said ,Sahara Energy Resort Limited have been drilling oil in the community without caring about the welfare of the people that own the land.
According to them, they have visited the company headquarters in Benin City several times to lay their complaint but all to no avail.
Speaking during the protest, Madam Awawu Asokunrami said with her age of over 80 years I have joined my people to visit the company headquarters to lay their complain, but they continue promising without any result.
” I no bi small pikin ,they dey decieve us every time. Water, we non get, light is not there, let them go and leave our oil alone.” She said.
The odionwele of the community, Pa Samuel Asokunrami said , our pumping machine got spoilt since two years, and they agreed to help us repair it, till now nothing is down to put it in order. Why drilling our oil? They should leave our oil alone since they don’t care about our community.we are tired of them, he complained.
“The company have refused to honour our agreement with them to always send welfare to the community every year.
Also what they agreed to be paying to our elders every month they have refused to pay them.
” Now we are tired of going to Benin , their headquarters everytime to complain without result, since they don’t have our time, let them leave our oil alone and pack out of the community.
The President of kolokolo Community, Roland Mayi , said, ” we don’t want to take the laws into our hand, hence we are pleading that the company, Sahara Energy Resort Limited, honour the agreement with the community.
” Oil Spillage has destroyed our farm, cassava, yam and other crops that we planted can not grow because of the oil Spillage as all the crops are completely destroyed.
“we appeal to the governor and Omo no Oba, Ewuare 11 to prevail on them to listen to us”, he stated.