Chief
Dr. Fidelis Adaka was the former Vice-President Nigerian Statistical
Association, former Head of Department Field Operation Ministry of Economic
Planning Delta State, Asaba. In this interview with Isoko Mirror he bares
his mind on some salient issues concerning Uzere community, OML 30 CDB and 2019
general elections.
Can we meet you
sir?
My name is Chief Dr. Fidelis E. Adaka (J) former Vice-president
Nigerian Statistical Association (2012-2016), former HOD field Operation
Ministry of Economic Planning Delta State, Asaba.
Uzere has enjoyed relative peace. What is the secret?
For the past 6 years, 2012 till date we have been peaceful
because we got what we demanded for before 2012, from NPDC and Heritage the
newcomer is trying its best. Although we are expecting more from them because
from our own oil production we are not even enjoying 1 percent of our total
contribution to the Nigeria economy. But half bread is better than none, so
they say.
What we are getting now is what government in their own wisdom
should have supported Heritage Oil Service Ltd to give to us. The reviewed GMOU
which we did recently is still under serious controversy because the personnel
sent to the OML 30 CDB Board by Isoko nation Pulled out of the Board.
It has no effect on Uzere as a community, we are trying to
maintain our peace. In Uzere we believe strongly that it is only peace that can
bring development. So we are praying that if government can create a Board for
Isoko nation and open up OML 28 which under normal circumstances produce more
than the current one, it will be okay by us.
What is Uzere
contributions in terms of oil production to the Nigeria economy?
Uzere is contributing 30,000 barrels of crude oil per day that
is what we are told. But, those of us on ground are aware that we produced more
than that. But even if we used that as a benchmark based on what is being given
to us, you will see that 30,000 barrels and the current price of 46.26 dollars
per barrel is enormous.
Production =30,000 barrels
Cost per barrel =$46
Exchange Rate=#360
30,000 *46.26
=$1,387,800
360
$1=360
One day=499,608,000
30 days
14,988,240,000
12 months =1 year. 12
179,858,8000,000.
Production =30,000 barrels
52 weeks high price $76.90
Production Cost per day
30,000*76.90
=$2,307,000
* 360
Daily=
830,520,000
30 days= 249,560,000
12 months =1 years 298,987,200,000
We are not given 10 percent of the figures I have just quoted
above not even 0.5 percent of the amount of barrels we are producing. But, we
will get there one day by the special grace of God.
Sir you said Uzere has
not been given their fair share. What is the possible solution to the issue?
Well, the possible solution for me, as a Justice of Peace, I
suggest we should go via dialogue. l also believe that we should draw
government attention to what is happening. For instance, if government is aware
that the immediate past chairman of OML 30 Board is from Urhobo land in Ughelli
North local government area and Isoko nation is producing above 55 percent of
the OML 30 Board. Why must we not enjoy the position of the chairmanship that
was part of the negotiation? We all agreed that after Ughelli North, it should
be the turn of Isoko to produce the chairman.
What led to Isoko nation
not producing the chairman of OML 30?
The election or selection that was done to bring in the new CDB
chairman was not democratic, it was super imposed and the Isoko people in OML
30 CDB were not pleased with the process and they pulled out of the CDB to
protest their grievances.
Now that they pulled out
of the OML 30 CDB. What is the way forward and solution?
Government in their own wisdom will always have the solution and
way forward, the government knows that if they want peace to be maintained they
should always know how to work out the solution that will give us peace in the
OML 30 Board .
Isoko nation as a group has been calling for their own separate
CDB Board. And if we are calling for our own separate CDB Board, the issue has
many dimensions. For instance, a situation where Uzere sub-community are up to
9 and the pipelines pass through these sub-communities and Uzere in their
wisdom says we are Uzere and didn't name his sub-communities while other
community in the OML 30 Board name their sub-communities. So, if we are given
one person in terms of training and empowerment and the other communities who
name their sub-communities in the CDB and some of the community have up to 9 to
20 respectively which are part of the area the pipelines pass through, you see
that the injustice is clear.
It is either, we allow every community that have sub-communities
that the pipelines passed through to benefit in terms of training and
empowerment only then, we can have peace. This is exactly why we are not
satisfied with that election that was conducted and the Isoko people protested
by pulling out of the Board to the Government though, the government has not
come with any solution yet, we are still expecting the government to do
something about it looking, at our complaints.
.
Recently a group came
out again that they did not pulled out of the OML 30.What is your reaction?
Among every 12 there is always a Judas one or two persons might
have enjoyed something from them, they will always come out to say we are not
in support of the pulling out. If you go and find out from the majority of the
oil producing communities you will discover that some of the people who are
saying we did not pull out are not oil producing communities rather are those
whose pipelines passed through their communities.
Recently there was a
statement in a video by Hon. Leo Ogor that Isoko South has two Constituencies
and Isoko North has two Constituencies that the Federal Constituency is the
second Constituency Isoko North has. What is your take on that?
You see, that Hon. Leo Ogor cannot prove that statement but as a
statistician I believe in fact and figures as far I am concerned, Isoko South
and North have a Federal Constituency together. And the Federal Constituency
belongs to the two local governments. Then, in the State House of Assembly we
Isoko South has two Constituency in Isoko and Isoko North has one Constituency.
The Federal Constituency which himself is enjoying more than 16
years.We have understanding for many years, he is doing his best by being vocal
but the dividends is not coming to all of us. And we all agreed that the
Federal Constituency should be rotative, the current Ovie of Enhwe HRM Anthony
Onomuefe Efekodha enjoy it for 2 tenure of 4 years.
But, Hon. Leo Ogor hijacked it for 16 years giving peanuts to
some people to propagate that he is very good and doing well. I believe he is
overdue and he is sending wrong signals to outside world, the breast of a
mother, one child cannot suck it even if they are twins, it cannot be given to
only one child. In my own opinion we should allow Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas
Ewomazino to represent us for the next 4 years and if he performs we allow him
to repeat the class for another 4 years.
Sir some people believe in party politics and Hon. Joel-Onowakpo
is not from the PDP. Is it going to be based on candidate or party?
That is a very dicey question. I know my people and I know
myself we will look at the candidates based on face value, your credibility and
what you have contributed to Isoko nation.
Hon. Joel-Onowakpo as chairman in Isoko South for few months
added value to that very system, as chairman DBIR he added value to it. As a
coordinator of FIRS of Edo, Delta, River state respectively he added value to
it. The evidence is there for us to see. He was able to erect structures in
almost all the local government in the State. If given the mandate he will do
well .If he didn't do well, we will ask him to come as we are asking Hon. Leo
Ogor to come with his utterances. He should comeback he had made enough
contributions. We thanked him.
What is your message for the Isoko people during the general
elections.
They should vote candidates not party.
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