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There seem not to be an end in sight to the lingering face-off between Azimarine and General Service Limited, the contracting firm handling the refurbishment project in Idung Adiakot community and two other protesting communities, Esit Urua and Idung Imose, all in Eket, Akwa Ibom State as efforts by the federal government to wade into the matter proved abortive.
This comes on the heels that the protesting communities, Esit Urua and Idung Imose who accused the contracting firm of dumping toxic waste in their domain have proven that they are poised for the clash, as they deliberately refused to honour an invitation for a peace talk extended to them by the minister of Niger Delta Affairs who awarded the clean-up contract.
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Reacting to the action, which he said had grounded activities at the project site, Elder Godsday Peter Orubebe, who was visibly angry, threatened to institute legal action to put an end to what he termed a mess.
Elder Orubebe, who particularly appealed to Niger Delta youths and community leaders to refrain from acts capable of jeopardizing government efforts towards developing the region, charged them to shield their swords and avoid acts capable of making them return to their hostilities.
The minister, who decried the level of intimidation which had denied contractors the freedom to carry out their developmental task, said the region could not afford to hinder the much awaited development, which its founding fathers laboured to attain.
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He disclosed plans by his ministry to partner with security agencies to ensure that it provides a legal and safe environment for contractors handling projects in the region. “we cannot be demanding for development and at the same time pursuing contractors out of site and if these areas are not developed, we cannot cannot talk of meaningful employment for our jobless youths and many other benefits. This act, if not stopped will lead us only to under development of a region that produces the spoils of the land”.
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Meanwhile, the contractor, Mr. Isaac Abakam, who was logically with his response while fielding questions from newsmen, lamented that the project which has attained 25 percent completion has been grounded by the protests.?
Explaining further that the remediation project denied dumping toxic waste as alleged by the protesting communities, adding that they a asking for compensation.’ “We are aware that federal government is kicking and fighting companies doing so, and will not dream of doing so”.?
If they have proof , let them table it.
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On his part, the village head of Idung Adiakot, chief Adiakot Stephen Okomo explained that geographically, his community is the only coastal area, while those protesting where in the farther hinter land, hence, declaring their project as strange and uncalled for.?
Condemning the action, he said the project aimed at addressing the challenges of environmental degradation in the area, stressed the need for the former to embrace dialogue
LEADERSHIP however gathered that the protesting communities is not unconnected with the cry of marginalization by both communities, who lament that they are not carried along.
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