The President General of Assa town union an Autonomous Community in Ohaji- Egbema LGA,Imo State, Mr Evans Reward have denied report accusing him of going into hiding after an alleged attack on some officials of the state government who were on official visit to one of the oil companies operating in the area.
Addressing journalists in Owerri concerning the matter, Mr Reward described the allegation as a calculated attempt to blackmail his leadership and brings his image to public ridicule.
He hinted that the report made against his person accusing him of hiring thugs who beat and attempted to kidnap government officials is not only baseless but a futile attempt by his detractors to bring him down.
Narrating what actually happened, on that fateful day, Reward said he was informed by the villagers that some set of individuals and an association called Host Community of Oil Companies in Nigeria, HOSCON, came to stop drilling activities going on in the community.
In response to the call, he went to the area with members of his executive including the Youth President, where they met the HOSCON members.
Reward further explained that the association was said to have come from the Ministry of Niger Delta to investigate land disputes between two factional kindreds without prior notice to the community leadership.
“Our traditional ruler was not informed, even the Local Government Chairman of our council area was not informed. So we approached them and asked who they were, they gave us identity cards bearing HOSCON Chairman and members. Some of them were also staff of ISOPADEC.”;he said.
He noted that after listening to the visitors, he informed them that it was not their call to handle the kindred matter, noting that the community leadership had the capacity to settle the matter as it directly involved them.
“This happened in the presence of security men operating within the axis, including the Community Relations of WalterSmith and others as members of the association left gently and entered their vehicle to another location at Adapalm owned by Seplat,”; he narrated.
He expressed shock that on the evening of the same day, he got an information alleging that he came with his executive members to beat up the HOSCON members and tore their clothes and made away with their phones.
Mr Reward said it was important to let members of the public know that the people of his community under his leadership are peaceful and ready to welcome every healthy development in the area.
He, however, recalled that HOSCON, in the past has sent several letters to most of the oil companies operating in the area compelling them to appear before its office, claiming to be in charge of oil and gas in Imo State.
He noted that from investigation, the association does not exist and has no members from his area but was operating under the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
“Few months ago, investors called Hamakan who are into CNG gas came in to acquire land in Assa Community to set up a company the same HOSCON intercepted them, and warned them not to deal with our community without first of all meeting them as the people who are in charge of oil and gas in the state.
“I’m not against the governor of the day, he is a father to me. I am a PG appointed by the government. There was never a time I insulted the Governor, or any member of my leadership insulted the government of the day over any issue, and there has never been anytime Assa Community intercepted or beat any government official.
”;The information going round is from those who want to label my leadership as anti-government.
Adding his voice, the Youth Presidents of the Community, Egbula Chibuzo alleged that Henry Okafor the Commissioner in Charge of the Niger Delta Ministry has been sabotaging the activities of oil companies operating in the area.
He accused the commissioner of threatening oil companies to come to his office before any operation or he gets them shut down.
”; The Commissioner is trying to use HOSCON to blackmail us. He has been using his agent to make oil companies shiver, threatening them for them to leave the Community. The Governor should please call Okafor to order.
But in his reaction to inquiries by DAILY POST over the matter on phone, the Niger Delta Affairs Commissioner, Henry Okafor said he found out is that some people from Assa wrote a petition to his office that WalterSmith was on their land and but did not pay them.
He said, “So we invited WalterSmith and the company acknowledged that they will go to Assa and if the operation includes part of their land, they will pay those people. That is what I know.
“That meeting was between WalterSmith and petitioners, my office is responsible for host communities and oil companies affairs. My Ministry nominated three people to go there and witness what was happening. They went there and some people mobilized youths to beat them up,”; he alleged.
The State HOSCON Chairman, Chima Alvan Okereke, in his defense said Assa Autonomous Community is having problems with the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry and not HOSCON.
