[allAfrica.com]  [Africa_2005]


Oil Firms Blamed for N/Delta Crisis

This Day (Lagos)
NEWS
November 24, 2005
Posted to the web November 29, 2005

By Segun James
Warri
Delta State government has accused oil companies operating in the Niger Delta
of being responsible for the unrest in the region.
The state out-going Commissioner for Special Duties Inter-ethnic Relations and
Conflict Resolution, Comrade Ovuzourie Macaulay, made this known in Warri at a
meeting between a non-governmental organisation, Global Citizen Journey, the
American Consulate and Delta State government.
According to him, the oil companies in their haste sign Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with various oil producing communities in the bid to ensure
their operations go on unhindered. But situation later take a new turn when the
people insisted that the companies implemented MOUs to the letter, a demand
which the companies refuses thereby creating a stalemate.
Macaulay told the 19-member delegate of Global Citizen Journey from the United
States of America and the American Consul General, Brian Browne that peace has
indeed retuned to Warri and environs, hence, business and other activities are
beginning to pick up.
He was full of praise for the American organisation, which built a N3.5 million
library for Gbaramatu Grammar School, Oporoza, the biggest secondary school
library in the entire Niger Delta.
Speaking later, Consul-General BROWN said that the American Government is proud
of the activities of the Global Citizen Journey.
According to him, the greatest thing that was achieved by the organisation was
its ability to bring the former warring peoples of the region to work together
as one.
"The more you bind together to build something, the more likelihood that you
will not fall apart "he stated.
The founder of the Global Citizen Journey Susan Partnow said that the library
project is the first of the organization's effort at bringing succor to the
people.

   

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