COMMUNITIES COUNTER NGO ON ALLEGATIONS OF DISCONTENT BETWEEN THEM AND OKOMU OIL PALM COMPANY PLC

Voice of the Earth Initiative (VOTE) and Edo Civil Society Organization (EDOSCO) hosted a one-day seminar on the 11^th of July 2022 at Udo Community, Ovia South West LGA, entitled “Sustainable Development and Security”. 

Various stakeholders from surrounding communities, security agencies such as the DPO from the Nigeria Police Force, Iguobazuwa, and the Commandant Edo State Security and Vigilante Network, as well as management from the Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, attended the discourse.  

Ajele, Sunday, the spokesperson from VOTE, in his opening address intimated that the maiden meeting had become necessary due to “recent developments widely reported on all media which is painting inhabitants and companies in (sic) bad relationship”.  

Using the already resolved 4^th May 2022 AT&P and Okomu Oil Palm issue brokered by the selfsame DPO who was present at this seminar as the sole example for his organization now having to “step into a matter involving two parties”, this despite the seminar being entitled “Sustainable Development and Security” in general.  

He then detailed [Okomu’s apparent complaints against the AT&P community, and complaints by unnamed “communities and indigenes”, which centred around similar unfounded allegations observed in earlier online blogs since 2014 by Ajele.  

These allegations were also debunked by an investigative committee set up by the Governor of Edo State, HE Godwin Obaseki, following a petition sent to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Ajele in 2019.

As far as sustainability and development was concerned, participants acknowledged Okomu’s highly proclaimed corporate social responsibility programme (CSR) that has been active within all communities under the company’s footprint, including those of AT&P, Okomu Community, Markilolo, and Udo. 

Communities have received the likes of schools, town halls, bursaries, roads, boreholes, amongst others, over the past 10 years of the company’s CSR programme.  No one was more vocal about this than Mr. Friday Aragua, the Chairman of Udo Community, who also made it clear that Marioghinoba Community, popularly known as AT & P, was a village under Udo and they (Udo) oversaw this community.  “Therefore, it behooves upon them (Udo) alone to resolve an issue emanating from the community, which they have done”, he responded.  

Mr. Festus also from Udo Community, further questioned the essence of the seminar and wondered if the NGO was trying to close the company. He queried why the NGO did not proffer solutions to the constant stealing of the company’s products by elements within the neighbouring communities.

The Communication Officer for Okomu, Mr. Fidelis Olise, raised the point that there was no reference between general development and security, as captioned in the invitation letter or in the banner of the seminar, and that the gathering was seemingly initiated to malign Okomu and nothing more. He also countered Ajele’s allegation of maltreatment of the communities by the company, backing Aragua’s assertions to the audience.

Co-convener of the seminar, Mr. Augustine Enabulele, the Chairman of EDOSCO emphasized the need for peace and dialogue, stating that communities would not benefit from the company in an insecure and acrimonious environment. He also suggested the need for ongoing dialogue between both the company and the communities in the pursuit of lasting peace.

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