PRESS RELEASE- OMPALAN
The Oil Mineral Producing Areas Landlords Association of Nigeria – OMPALAN held their Peace and Security consolidation workshop for local communities at Dave-Preston Hotel at Obehie in Asa Ukwa LGA, Abia State on Friday 20 th March, 2009.
Talking to reporters at the venue of the Peace workshop, the National Coordinator-Security, Prince (Dr) Leslie Eke, JP said that the workshop was held in order to forestall the sabotage of Oil production which hurts the economy through the loss of sorely needed foreign exchange to finance national development. Prince Eke stated that blown-up pipelines interrupt the supply of crude to refineries and produce shortages that cause sudden spikes in Oil prices. He averred that hostage taking is not only a stress on foreign captives, their families and the companies they work for, but also presents a challenge to international diplomacy and foreign direct investment.
The keynote address at the workshop was given by the chairman, OMPALAN Board of Trustees & National leader- Bishop Udo Azogu. He said that the workshop underscores the overwhelming endorsement by the good people on the Niger Delta region for the rule of Law. He said that that the overwhelming perception in the region is that security concerns are the exclusive of Government. This he said has resulted in noticeable apathy and ambivalence towards security matters in Oil producing areas by the public. The Bishop maintains that he is disturbed by the crescendo of crime wave in the Oil producing areas, which exponents of rule of Law from a wide spectrum of human and spiritual endeavors have come together to look into ways of securing the future of the region from lawlessness. He noted that at the peace workshop patriotic Nigerians including traditional rulers, women and youth leaders have fused into a formidable rescue mission aimed at coordinating a definite response to the perennial problems of the region under the platform of OMPALAN. He called for a forth dimension in local governance in local communities of the Oil producing states tagged community Administration Council – CAC, which will seek to entrench and bring together community institutions such as council of chiefs, town unions, youth and women organizations under a functional platform for the attainment of set goals underpinning peace, security, stability and progress. He concluded that elusive peace in the volatile region translates to insecurity and it is in this vein that OMPALAN is organizing peace and security consolidation workshops across Oil producing states to pave way for the national workshop on consolidation of peace and security in local communities of the Niger Delta region.
Other papers delivered at the workshop was Peace building, State building & Security by Prince (Dr) Leslie Eke, JP-National Coordinator, Security, Oil companies & host communities/strategies for control of crisis within the Niger Delta region by High Chief P. C Elechi- Deputy National Chairman/ National Coordinator of Projects, the importance of Peace & Security in Oil producing Areas ( the non-violence approach) by Sir P. C. O Agomuo, KSC- Deputy State Chairman,
Abia State and Repositioning and Alignment of Synergies for sustainable Peace & Security Consciousness in Oil producing Areas by Mr. Jyte Davies.
Others in attendance were Royal Highnesses M.N Akanwa, I. U Nkwocha, Dr. M. C Nwamuo, and Hon. Felix Neenwa from Rivers State, youths and women leaders from across the region.
Signed: Uche Sam Eke.
