Indigenes of communities in Omoku, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of Rivers State, who are schooling abroad, have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the neglect of their communities by the oil firm, Oando Plc.
The students said they have fully supported the Omoku Development Council (ODC) in its efforts to address the company’s ongoing marginalisation of their area.
They expressed serious concerns over the oil company’s failure to uphold its corporate social responsibilities (CSR) despite Omoku being one of its most significant oil-producing regions.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, Comrade Chima Elenya, president of Omoku Students in Diaspora (OSID), said the students have spread their campaign to the national level and urged the president to investigate their complaints.
Elenya alleged that Oando’s continued neglect has contributed to abandoned infrastructure, environmental damage and economic struggles for the local population.
He called on all Omoku indigenes across the world to unite in solidarity, drawing inspiration from the Ogoni people, who have successfully fought for their environmental and economic rights.
The OSID leader stressed the importance of a collective voice in demanding accountability and meaningful development from Oando, which has continued to extract resources from Omoku without adequately reinvesting in the communities.
Elenya urged all Omoku sons and daughters to work together toward the sustainable development of their communities.
He called on Tinubu to advise Oando Plc to take immediate steps to address the concerns of the host communities.
