Segun James
19 April 2006
Warri — The People of Ekpan, whose land houses the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) have, raised alarm over the pollution of the environment around the refinery by hazardous and toxic fumes from the petrochemical plant.
The people under the aegis of the Landlord Association of Awhakpor/Ajomata, Ekpan, lamented that even though they have been enduring the acid rains and fumes from the faulty petrochemical plant of the refinery for some years now, the situation became life threatening two weeks ago when the entire community was covered in a cloud of black dust which triggered a stampede as people ran for dear lives.
The people in a letter to the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and signed by messrs Uviomo Akpo, Richard Okoro, Polycarp Ojukwu, Folorunso Ayeni and Robert Omagbemi among others, said that they were forced to flee until investigation revealed that the cloud was from the refinery.
"In the last two weeks, the amount of pollution has grown to enormous proportions and is increasing at such a ferocious rate that unless the Petrochemical plant is shut down immediately, we, our children and all residents of Awhakpor/Ajomata in Ekpan have been sentenced to death by Petrochemical poisoning".
According to them, the utter disregard of the management of the WRPC to the welfare of the people or the effect of the fumes to the environment has proved that "there is a diabolical dimension to the evil being perpetrated by the petrochemical plant, that is, the gradual decimation and violation of our right to healthy living " the people accused.
They clamed that the following analyses by experts on them and the environment, it was found that "this highly toxic fume is responsible for the eye, body, lung irritation, offensive odor, bronchia asthma and in some cases, cancer being experienced by residents of the community".
They therefore demanded for N15 billion compensation being damages for the suffering to themselves, the people and the environment in which they live by the WRPC.
Former information Minister and Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark has made it clear that to the people of Delta State that as it is the turn of the people of the south south to produce the next President of the country, so it is the turn of the people of the Delta South Senatorial district which is made up of the Ijaw, Itsekiri and the Isoko to produce the next governor of the State.
Chief Clark said the people will no longer condone the tyranny of the majority both at the national and state levels.
Chief Clark made this declaration at Ozoro, In Isoko North Local Government Area at the occasion of the first anniversary of the G3, the political organization of the people of the Delta South Senatorial district.
In a very frank note, the elder statesman advised the Ibos and Urhobo in Delta North and Central Senatorial Districts in the state to, in the interest of fairness and justice concede the governorship position to people of the Delta South senatorial districts.
He said that the clamour for equity at the national level should also apply to the state level, saying that it is for these reasons that the agitation for a south south presidency must not be allowed to die.
Speaking earlier, the National Chairman of the G3 and Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan urged the people of the district to see themselves as one, adding that the should not allow themselves to be used against each other by those who want to used the ethnic divide as a tool of destabilization.
Besides, Uduaghan also call on the people to rally round the government of Governor James Ibori even in the face of detractors.
He said that it is in the atmosphere of unity and peace that they can produce the next governor for the state.
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