Anambra Oil: Wada Takes Case To Jonathan

THE Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada, has appealed to the Ibaji Community in the State, who now claim the disputed Anambra River Oil Well, to resist the temptation of taking the law into their hands.

Reacting to a recent declaration of Anamba as the 10th oil producing state in the country, Governor Wada urged the people to protect the installations and assets of Orient Petroleum Resources (OPR) on Ibaji land.

The governor, who was absent at the dinner organised by Kogi State Government Friday night to round off activities marking the 21st anniversary of the creation of the State, held crucial meeting with President Jonathan in Aso Rock Villa over the oil well dispute involving three States of Anambra, Kogi and Enugu.

In a statement issued on his behalf by his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, Wada insisted that Kogi and Anambra States should have the same status as far as Orient Refinery is concerned. The two States, he said, are investors.

Enugu State is also laying claim to a part of the area.

But Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike, told The Guardian in Awka at the weekend, that neither Enugu nor Kogi has “invested a dime in the activities” of the oil-prospecting firm, Orient Petroleum Resources Plc (OPR), at Anambra River basin, where President Jonathan recently commissioned the company’s oil drilling facilities in Aguleri-Otu, Anambra State.

Uzodike noted  that, while Anambra had shown unshaken resolve and confidence in oil production and activities of the OPR by committing more than N4 billion of tax payers’ fund in the company, “none of the persons and States, now claiming ownership of the Aguleri-Otu location of the oil well, has invested a kobo”.

History was made on August 30, 2012 when the President commissioned production of oil at the Orient Petroleum Resources (OPR) Plc’s Anambra River production facility, at Aguleri Otu, which consequently launched Anambra State into the elite club of the nation’s oil producing States.

The company, according to its Managing Director, Chief Emeka Nwawka, an engineer, is currently stock-piling the extracted crude in large barges at Nsugbe-Umuleri site of its refinery in Anambra East council of the state, ahead of the coming on full stream of the refinery in a few months time.

The Chief Executive also confirmed that two meetings had been held with the representatives of the Enugu State Government on June 21, 2012 and July 31, 2012, attended by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Patrick Okolo (represented by his Permanent Secretary, Mr. Eze. O. Eze), the Attorney General, Chief Anthony Ani, and the chairman of the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Chief Cornell Onwubuya on one part and the company on the other.

Awoniyi, who said he was in Aguleri-Otu, Anambra State for the commissioning of the Anambra Basin oil well belonging to OPR, was, however, quoted as saying that Kogi would soon join the league of oil-producing States in the country.

Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, in a broadcast, said the oil well, which is currently being exploited by Orient belonged to the State.

Chronicling how the State invested in oil exploration and consequent drilling n the State, Obi said: “It is pertinent to recall that Orient was formed by the administration of Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju in 2001 and allocated oil fields domiciled in Anambra State.

“The board is peopled by prominent Nigerians of Anambra extraction, such as Chief Emeka Anyaoku (Chairman), Dr. Alex Ekwueme (Vice-Chairman) and Chief Arthur Mbanefo.

“Though Dr. Mbadinuju did not make any direct monetary contribution, under Dr. Chris Ngige, Anambra State Government invested the sum of N100 Million naira (N100 Million) in the project. With the vision and belief in the positive impact of the project on the economy, the present administration invested N4.4 billion in it directly and indirectly. This bolstered the confidence of other investors in the venture, thus making its commissioning a reality.

“Whilst my predecessors never visited the site, I personally laid the foundation of the refinery. I have also visited the site several times since 2006 during which no group or state raised ownership issue.

“It is also pertinent to note that till date, neither the groups nor the states laying claim to the oil field have, directly or indirectly, invested a kobo in the project; whereas, Anambra State and its citizens have invested several billions.

“Let me state that Anambra State believes in good neighbourliness and will, in conformity with our nature, always admire and celebrate other states, which may become producers of oil or any other mineral resource in the future. However, we believe that people’s hardwork, sacrifices and investment should be allowed to match their opportunities.

“Anambra State will remain a good neighbour and will continue to pray that oil be discovered in other states so that Nigeria will emerge an economic giant among the comity of nations.”