Flood Menace: Obi calls for FG’s intervention * Insists Oil Field Belongs to Anambra State

 
Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State wept on Wednesday as he visited communities that were ravanged by flood in  his State. He was accompanied by officials from both Federal and State Emergency Management Agencies.  The communities are Ossomala, Ochuche, Umuodu, Akili-Ogidi, Akili-Ozizor and Atani in Ogbaru Local Governemnt Area and  Oroma Etiti, Ezi-Anam, (Umuikwu and Umudora), Umuenwelum, Umueze-Anam, Umuoba-Anam, Nmiata, Innoma, Ukwalla, Owelle, Igbedor, Odekpe, Odemagu, Nzam and Igbokenyi in Anambra West.

 

At both Local Governments, Governor Obi consoled with the affected communities and assured them that the State would stand by them at a period he described as “hopeless for them”.
 After visiting  the affected communities, the Governor, in a broadcast to the State expressed shock at what he discovered. His words: “The level of devastation suffered by these communities is much more than what we were even told. Numerous farms were destroyed and washed ashore, while houses were submerged in the flood. Closer to the banks of the River Niger on Ogbaru area, the over-flowing river has also caused a dangerous coastal erosion that has made the relocation of those living within the affected axis a necessity.”
 
Though he said that the State Government had taken immediate measures within her capacity, he called on the Federal Government to intervene by declaring the affected local Governments flood disaster areas and embarking on measures to manage the situation and save lives and property of these communities from further devastation.
 
In another broadcast, he expressed shock at the claims by some groups and States to the oil field   discovered in Anambra State. He wondered why the claims started after the successful commissioning of   Orient Petroleum facilities by the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan when he visited Anambra State on the 30th of August.
 
Tracing the formation of Orient to Anambra, he said “It is pertinent to recall that Orient Petroleum Resources Plc was formed during the Government 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, among others.  Its management is led by Engr. Emeka Nwawka.”
He added that “Though Dr. Mbadinuju did not make any direct monetary contribution, under Dr. Chris Ngige (2003-2006), Anambra State Government invested the sum of N100 Million naira (N100 Million) in the project.”
Continuing, Governor Obi remarked: “under our Government (between 2006-2009), Anambra  State, with the vision and belief in the positive impact of the project on the economy of the State and country, invested, directly and indirectly,  the sum of Four Billion, Four  Hundred million Naira (N4.4 Billion), which bolstered the confidence of other investors to invest in the venture that made 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 severally since 2006, without any group or State interfering in its ownership as is now the case following the announcement of drilling of oil there.                           
It is also pertinent to note that till date, neither the grousp nor the States laying claim to the oil field have, directly or indirectly, invested a  kobo in the project, while Anambra State and her people have invested several billions.
Let me at this juncture 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 neigbour and will continue to pray for oil to be discovered in other States so that Nigeria will emerge an economic giant in the comity of nations in the world,” Obi concluded