Non-recogniition of Oro Nation as oil bearing community: Joint House Committees in Uyo, settle for business

BY EPHRAIM IKPE

The Joint House Committees of the National Assembly arrived the Ibom International Airport on Thursday November 24, 2011 on a mission to carry out investigations as well as conduct a public hearing to ascertain the veracity of the position of the Motion before the Green Chamber by a member of the House, representing Oron Federal Constituency, Hon. Robinson Uwak, seeking for recognition of his Federal Constituency as an Oil and Gas bearing region of the South-South zone.
Speaking to Journalists at the Airport soon on arrival with other members of the Joint House Committees, the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Hon. Ajibola said that they were in Akwa Ibom to find out the truth about the prevalence of Oil and Gas in Oro nation’s Communities and they would do all they could to establish that fact to ensure that justice was done to the people of Oro nation.
Hon. Ajibola observed that Oro nation was believed to be an Oil bearing community within Akwa Ibom and Nigeria and that it was not difficult to prove that position as where oil exploration was taking place would not be hidden as they would go round. He assured that once they establish that Oil was present in Oro nation they, in the House of Reps would do everything they would be able to pass a resolution on the matter.
Corroborating the position of Hon. Ajibola, Hon. Uche Ekunife from Anambra State, Chairman, House Committee on Environment added that they were in Akwa Ibom State to prove the claims made by one of their members, Hon. Robinson Uwak through a Motion to the House of Reps. that his Federal Constituency was an Oil and Gas producing Community and same had been abandoned for so many years by the Federal Government, having not been recognized as such.
Asked on how they intended to make their findings, she said after going round they would take the views, memoranda and presentations of the members of the Community, the Oil Companies and other stakeholders, analyze such contributions and come up with a position to ensure that the communities in Oro nation benefit from the oil and gas taken from their land.
In his response to a question as to how he made his way into the hearts of his colleagues in the House of Reps to see his Motion given such rapt attention and whether he just started the struggle or took off from where a former legislator ended, the representative of Oron Federal Constituency has this to say, “I want to say that this people were not given the best. It is said that a tiger produces its kind, and not a dog. Governor Godswill Akpabio is an emerging tiger and out of his state I have emerged. We are approaching transformation through good legislation with the spirit of the emerging tiger. That is what we are doing…”
Hon. Ekunife had told reporters that about twenty of them from five House Committees would be arriving, since they had to come in two flights at 2.00pm and 4.00pm. They House members were treated to a colourful Airport reception made up of women and cultural groups. Some of those present at the Airport reception grounds were the President General of Oro Union, Barr. O. A. Okon; the Transition Committee Chairman of Udung Ukoh LGA, leaders of thoughts, political elders, Hon. Uwak’s Coordinators for the five local government areas of Oro nation, Personal Assistants, the people of Oro nation and friends.
The team moved from the Airport for a Courtesy call to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State as scheduled. The Joint Committees would make findings by air, water and land as well as conduct public hearing on Saturday November 26, 2011 to ascertain whether Hon. Uwak’s motion should be positively followed for the benefit of Oro people.
Weekend Insight gathered that the State Governor was also billed to come into the State later that day as the Aircraft that carried the House members also conveyed some Aides of Governor Godswill Akpabio. As at press time, a text message put across to an aide of the Commissioner for information in the state to confirm that position yielded no result.