An Elder Statesman, Leader of Ijaw youth, Chief Edwin Clark is advising the Rivers State Government to take it easy with the host community of OML25 and respect their rights.
Chief Edwin Clark in an interview with journalist said its not the place of the Rivers State Governor to oppose the agitation of the host communities for divestment of the oil field to an indigenous oil company of their choice.
He said the host communities are not opposed to Rivers State Government but to Shell that has neglected them for over 40 years.
” My advice to the Governor of Rivers State is that the Belema people are his own people , if the people are still agitating it is not his place to hold them back or cajole them; you can’t threaten the people, they are your people , look after them; so I’m appealing to Governor Wike to take it easy with the people, he should not be angry with them, they are not opposed to him, they are opposed to shell “.
Edwin Clark who is the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum ,PANDEF said he expects the Rivers state Governor to take up the issue of OML25 with the Federal Government on behalf of the host communities.
“The Governor of Rivers State as the Chief Security Officer should approach the Federal government on behalf of the Belema people as they are under him, whatever is produced there in Belema oil and filling station would increase revenue and employ people in Rivers State , thereby creating more opportunities for the riverine area of Rivers State.
