Jonathan’s wife kinsmen, Okrika ethnic nationality seeks license to operate modular refinery
Kinsmen of the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Okrika ethnic nationality in Rivers State have joined the league groups in Niger Delta seeking license to operate modular refinery in their community.
Part of their plea before the federal government include peaceful approaches to discourage illegal oil refinery and bunkering in the Niger Delta region.
It was not clear if their demand is based on the possible use of the fund gathered by their daughter, Mrs. Patience Jonathan for the development of the modular refinery.
Okrika people made the move, on Thursday, during a one-day summit organised by Oil and Gas Surveillance Stakeholders Forum (OGSSF), in collaboration with Okrika Local Government Council, held at the Council’s headquarters in the area.
In his remarks, former dreaded militant leader and a High Chief Ateke Tom who doubles as Chairman of Okrika Division Council of Chiefs, Amiesimaka Kala-Owolo, demanded that Federal Government should approve modular refinery in the area because they people deserved it.
Tom and Kala-Owolo, who spoke through Chief Tamuno Akaluogbo, called on the Federal Government to advice security agents deployed in Niger Delta, and particularly in Okrika, not to waste crude oil intercepted from suspected oil bunkerers.
They argued that time has come for such oil recovered should be returned to refineries, noting that destruction illegal oil refineries have contributed immensely to environmental pollution.
He said “The people of Okirika should request for the license to operate our own modular refinery first before other people start because we have suffered so much from oil impact.
“We have all it takes to build our own modular refinery. The Federal Government should approve it for the people of Okirika. Our chiefs, including Chief Ateke hate oil theft and illegal refining.
“We are capable of operating it because we have the money it would take and the other resources, if the Federal Government will give us the chance to build our own.
“The Federal Government should tell the security operatives to always return stolen products to the refinery for refining. They should stop wasting it into the environment because they are causing harm to us,” Akaluogbo pleaded.
