SPDC Denies Involvement in Leadership Crisis of its EA Host Community in Bayelsa
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria recently said it did not interfere with the selection of community representative on cluster Development Boards (CDBs) that administers its community Development Funds.
The clarification came on the heels of complaints by Bilabiri 1 in Ekeremor LGA alleging that its recalled representative on mien CDB was still being recognized by SPDC and Bayelsa state government.
The community subsequently warned that if the abnormally is not reversed within 7 days, it would be left with no option than to disrupt operations at Estuaries Area (EA) oilfields operated by SPDC in the area.
And responding to the allegation, Michael Adande, spokesperson for SPDC said that the oil firm makes no input in the composition of the CDB in its host communities.
Said he, “SPDC maintains a non-interference policy in the internal affairs of the community Development Boards, particularly in the appointment or recall of community representatives.”
He explained that all stakeholders had duly signed onto this operating guideline as laid out in the Global Memorandum of Understanding. He said SPDC respects decisions that follow this procedure.”
It would be recalled that the leadership of Bilabiri 1 community had in a letter dated Oct. 5th and copied the Deputy Speaker, Michael Ogbere, appealed to Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo to intervene in the leadership tussle in the mien CDB.
According to the community, David Otiti, the erstwhile representative of Bilabiri 1, on mien CDB, a body that administers development funds provided by SPDC who had been recalled but still being recognized by the Bayelsa State government and SPDC.
The community urged the State government to prevail on officials of its Ministry of Mineral Resources to immediately effect the decisions of the community by invoking the recall as spelt out in the GMoU.
