Erastus Awortu, chairman, Andoni Local Government Area in Rivers, has charged oil companies operating in the area to desist from actions capable of creating disharmony in host communities.

Mr Awortu gave the advice shortly after a meeting with traditional rulers and representatives of an oil company (Green Energy International Limited) at Ngo, the council’s headquarters.

The chairman settled the disagreement between the Traditional Rulers Council and the Ikuru Town Youth Congress (ITYC), which sought to protect the interest of residents of Ikuru, an oil-bearing community.

He attributed recent outbursts and crises in the community, which resulted in threats and injuries inflicted on some of the community’s youth, to a mismanaged corporate alliance established by the company.

The council boss noted that a holistic consideration of issues raised by the chiefs and the company consequently uncovered some lopsidedness exhibited by the company.

He warned against the divide-and-rule strategy commonly adopted by most regional oil companies.

“How could the company give employment to the community as if it was specifically based on demands by the chiefs?

“They failed to harmonise their decision, especially considering the fact that the youth body was also promised a certain number of employment slots during separate stakeholders’ engagements with them.

“Today, the company’s action or inaction is causing conflicts of interest, giving an impression that the job opportunities were being hijacked by the chiefs at the expense of the efforts initiated by the youth.

“But for a timely intervention of security operatives, the company would have taken full responsibility for whatever outcome its failed corporate alliance would have caused its host,” the chairman said.

Speaking on behalf of the chiefs’ council of the community, Davies Ikanya, chairman of the body, commended the council chairman for wading into the matter.

He said the chiefs were unaware of any agreement between the youth and the company on the expected number of employment slots due to them.

Mr Ikanya urged the youth to always respect the traditional institution and constituted authorities in trying to pursue legitimate demands.

(NAN)