Oghara: Protest by the people of Ovade-Oghara in Ethiope west local government area of Delta State at the weekend momentarily paralyzed activities and operations at the Pan- Ocean Oil Company over alleged sack of indigenes of the community who were staff of the company by its management.
The protesters who stormed the company premises as early as 7:00 am comprising women, elders, youths young and old, with placards bearing the inscriptions we want our children back to work, no communities workers, no pan ocean, Enough is Enough, we want our children to be staffed etc said the company should relocate if they do not have the intentions any longer to retain their people in their pay roll.
The Youth Leader of the Community, Mr. Ejiro Efetobo, the most elderly man of the community Chief Amofeye Owoyen, Chief Friday Eyengho and others who spoke to journalists during the protest said the community management sack their people at will and never touch other staff from other parts of the country when there is a retrenchment exercise.
The community wondered , why is it that it is only their people that are sorted out for sack if the company needed to do so, appealing that they should rescind their decision and call back their children to work and as well permanent those that are still casuals for peace to reign between the company and their host community.
Chief Erakpowherin Godwin said further that the company often reneged on their earlier agreement each time they held any meeting and never kept to any of their promises and always make things very difficult for them each moment they entered into any truce for peace to remain for both parties, explaining that if they are no longer comfortable with the decisions of the people, they should close down and go.
The quick intervention of the leader of the Operation Delta Safe in the area, however saved the situation after he pleaded with the protesters to go and that they should channel their grievances accordingly through written application to the head of security and other relevant agencies before such protest could be allowed assuring them that he would convey their protest to the relevant quarters.
Meanwhile all efforts to speak with management of the company failed as none of them where available to comment on the issue while the protest lasted.
