By Steve Seigha, Warri
Coalition of civil society groups in Ijaw lands have thrown their weight behind the ongoing protest by 50 sacked SPDC workers in Forcados Terminal in Burutu LGA of Delta state.
The aggrieved workers since Monday have locked the main gate of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) barring other workers from resuming duty till they are recalled back.
The Ijaw people Development Initiative (IPDI) Comrade Austin Ozobo, Ijaw Intellectual Advocate (IIA) aka Izanzan camp, Amb. Yerinmeme Salaco and Legal adviser to Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Barr. Ebilade Obiri in their separate statements have condemned the activities of multinationals in Niger Delta, particularly SPDC.
They said that the entire Ijaw throw their weight behind the Ogulagha Youths over the protest against the SPDC unjust actions against the Ogulagha community and her sons and daughters.
“The protest is indeed a right action towards the right direction hence urging the Ogulagha Youths never to relent until the anomaly is corrected
“Over the years, SPDC, AGIP and other multinational oil companies have taken the simplicity, hospitality and peaceful conduct of the Ijaws for granted therefore this action (protest) should serve as a lesson to every other company operating in our territories.
“We can’t continue to allow them to exploit our crude while disallowing our people to benefit from it. We can’t continue to allow them use our oil to empower their people while members of the host communities being impoverished. This is time to stop or end all forms of deprivation.” They said.