#AnambraOilWar: Kogi gov meets Pres Jonathan, Anambra gov makes state broadcast

by Stanley Azuakola

Oil has murdered sleep, and has set friendly neighbours on the path of acrimony. Since August 30th when Orient Petroleum Resources commissioned its facilities in an occasion where President Jonathan declared Anambra State as the 10th oil producing state, there has been tensions between the states of Anambra, Kogi and Enugu. The trio are claiming ownership of the oil wells.

Over the weekend, the Kogi State governor, Capt. Idris Wada, missed the dinner organised to mark the 21st anniversary of the state’s creation. He was in Abuja instead, where he met with President Jonathan over the thorny dispute involving the oil well.

His deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, who stood in his stead, released a statement appealing 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.

He urged them instead to protect the installations and assets of Orient Petroleum Resources (OPR) on Ibaji land. He said no matter the claims to the contrary, Kogi and Anambra are joint investors in the refinery.

That is a position which the Anambra State government is forcefully disputing. The Anambra State commissioner for information and culture, Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike, said last 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.

He said that whereas Anambra State had invested 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”.

Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, on his own part, made a public broadcast in which he declared that the oil well which is currently being exploited by Orient belonged to the State.

In his words:

“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.”

While the three states battle over the oil, the managing director of Orient Oil, Chief Emeka Nwawka, said that they are 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.

Comments (8)

  1. omachonu u cant even speak English, but can u answer this simple question. where were u guys all these years?

  2. omachonu u cant even speak English, but can u answer this simple question. where were u guys all these years?

    1. Pls Bros, at this PC age, I suppose oil or natural resources wealth(turned to course) shouldn't b our source of pride, rather our God-given talent should b fully harnessed as d richest man or country of 2day is not Oil-based. Use ur HEAD

  3. please Kogi people should be very care,they should

    allow a sleeping dog to lie,Am from Aguleri and these land in question has been occupy by Aguler people since 500years ago,the ibaji community laying claim to the oil wells was occupy be Aguleri about 700years ago,it was duo to war that took place they collected that place from us WE AGULERI PEOPLE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND LAND LORD OF IBAJI COMMUNITY,TO CONFIRM THESE GO TO IBAJI AND SEE THE KIND OF NAME THEY BEAR ,THE SAME THING WITH OUR WE HAVE COMMON CULTURE AND COMMON BOUNDARY EVEN COMMON, AND BET ME IF IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS THE ISSUE IS NOT SOLVED WE WILL RETRIEVE OUR LAND BACK FROM IBAJI PEOPLE THEN THEY CAN GO AND LEAVE AT IDAH WHERE WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL IGALA,PLEASE ENOUGH IS ENOUGH DONT PUSH US TO THE WALL,WHERE WERE THE KOGI PPL AND USELESS UZO UWANNI WHEN ANAMBRARIAN INVESTED BILLIONS OF DOLLAR IN THE PROJECT?LOOK IF YOU FORCE YOUSELF TO BECOME AN OIL PRODUCING STATE GOD WILL TAKE AWAY THE LITTLE ONE HE HAS DEPOSITED IN YOUR LAND,THE YOUTH PRESIDENT ANAMBRA EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT,NYCN.OIL WAR

  4. @Innocent,how can u own a land and someone was building on it for years and u made no comment only to stupidly open ur mouth to lay claim when he has finished building.U are a big idiot.Don't try Anambra people because u will regret it.moron

  5. Ibos generally are cheaters and as such always want to be smart but I tell you as a true son of Ibaji that ownership is not based on the amount of money invested, well no be who first report matter that wins a case. Let Peter obi go n find out about Ibaji people. Idiot. Igbo Oli

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