Aginiejone, Secretary to OML 150 Forum, Warns Conoil of Impending Crisis

The Secretary of the OML 150 Communities’ Consultative Forum in Delta State, Mr. Oritseweyinmi Emmanuel Agbonekuya Aginiejone, has issued a stern warning to the management of Conoil Producing Limited, cautioning the company against undermining the leadership and authority of the Forum.

Aginiejone, in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday, November 1, emphasized that the gentility of the Forum’s Chairman, Dr. Monday Agbeyi, should not be mistaken for weakness.

According to him, credible information indicates that some officials of the indigenous oil and gas company have been bypassing the OML 150 Communities’ Consultative Forum, the legitimate body representing host communities, by engaging with unauthorized individuals ahead of the deployment of a new drilling rig to the company’s OML 150 operational base.

He revealed that it has come to the Forum’s notice that one Pro Richard Edegbai is attempting to play games with the OML 150 Communities’ Consultative Forum by illegally selecting individuals he prefers to negotiate on behalf of the Forum and the host communities.
This act, he said, is completely unacceptable and goes against the principles of transparency, accountability, and collective decision-making that guide the operations of the Forum.

> “Richard Edegbai should be cautioned immediately,” Aginiejone stated. “We call on Conoil Nigeria to also call him to order before his actions plunge OML 150 into crisis. If nothing is done, peace within OML 150 cannot be guaranteed. Conoil must therefore choose between peace and pieces.”

He further disclosed that official correspondences have been sent to Conoil’s management to address this breach of protocol and disregard for constituted authority, adding that the Forum had already notified Conoil about the movement of a drilling rig into OML 150 without the Forum’s notice or proper consultation.

> “Let it be clear that if anyone thinks they can take advantage of the peaceful nature of our Chairman, Dr. Monday Agbeyi, they are mistaken,” Aginiejone warned. “As the Secretary of OML 150, I will not relent until the right thing is done. We demand due process, respect for our communities, and proper consultation in all dealings.”

The Forum’s Secretary stressed that if Conoil fails to retrace its steps and engage directly with the legitimate leadership under Dr. Agbeyi, the OML 150 Communities’ Consultative Forum will be left with no choice but to deploy all legitimate means to defend the interests of its host communities.

Aginiejone reaffirmed that the OML 150 Communities’ Consultative Forum remains the only duly recognized and legitimate body mandated to interface with Conoil Producing Limited on all matters affecting the OML 150 host communities.