*** Promises to shut down operation for two weeks
The youth of Eket Federal Constituency today embarked on warning protest against the oil giant, ExxonMobil Corporation for their insensitivity on the plight of the host communities and flouting of local content policy of the federal government.
The youth which were drawn from different youth groups in the four local government area of Ibeno, Eket, Esit Eket and Onna led by Host Community Youth Movement said that ExxonMobil action to refused to renew the MoU and continuous sacking of Nigerian workers and replaced them with expatriates who are paid in hard currency cannot be condoned as their actions have brought untold hardship to the people of the area.
The youth frown at the under-development of the four local government area as an afront to the sensibility of the host communities especially the youth.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the Speaker of Host Community Youth Movement, Comrade Samuel Udoh said that they have written series of letters to have a round-table discussion with the Management of the company but their request have been totally ignored. He stated that ExxonMobil are taken the peaceful disposition of Eket Federal Constituency for granted. He posited that whether ExxonMobil like it or not, they will be forced to give due honour to the host communities, stressing that the youth of the area will stop at nothing but to ensure that ExxonMobil headquarter is relocated from Lagos to Akwa Ibom State.
He intimated that the company will witness the mother of all protest as they have already mobilized youth across the four local government area to shut down ExxonMobil operational facilities for two weeks until the management of the company grant them audience to discuss the way forward for the host communities. He listed some of their demands to include relocation of ExxonMobil headquarter to Eket Federal Constituency, building of infrastructure in the the region, restatement of sacked workers especially those from the four local government area, implementation of local contents policy of government, promotion of indigenes of the area to management cadre in the company, award of key projects to contractors from the region, among others.
They also demanded for the removal of Public Affairs Manager, Mrs Regina Udobong and Executive Director, Udom Inoyo as some of the people who are not representing the position of the people of the region in the company thereby denied the people their right.
Some of the placards reads, "We vehemently warn against undue disregard to our communities", "Don't kill our communities through sectional interests", "Regina Udobong must go" among others.
Comrade Udoh warned that the massive protest that will erupt ExxonMobil in the coming week will be preceded by a World Press Conference where the atrocities committed by the company against their host would be exposed to the global community as the event will be stream live on social media platforms.
The warning protest was attended by leaders of the different youth group in the four local government area of Eket Federal Constituency.
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