His Royal Highness Mkpe John Dimkpa is the paramount ruler of Alesa Eleme, in Rivers State, in this interview with Daily Politics on Trust TV, he said the federal government needs to consult community leaders before appointing heads for government agencies meant for the development of local areas. He blamed the lack of consultation for the reason agencies like the Niger Delta Development Commission and the likes are not doing works communities can see or feel. Excerpt
Your community hosts two refineries, can you give us a background of their existence?
The first was built by the British Petroleum Company in 1965 and the reception was calm. The British government was the first that came into discussion with the people through the Eastern Nigeria Government and the land was acquired and given over. Then, it was a great jubilation as people anticipated a good thing to come to the community.
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Some young people will notice the restiveness in the Niger Delta due to spillage. At the beginning of exploration and refining, did we have issues like that or was it a smooth sail?
Society develops everyday and at that time, the traffic was not as much as it is today. The quest for oil was not much but due to expansion of all aspects of life now, there is demand for it. The British came to a good understanding to embrace the people. A lot of things are going on now and with expansion and development, the place is growing into a cosmopolitan community. What you experience in such a scenario is not the same with a nuclear society like hamlets.
Eleme is a developing community with large industries and companies coming into the community. All these come with the need for development which in turn comes with a lot of issues. But it could be contained if both parties come together and realise their fault.
When the refining started, what was the relationship between your community, government and explorers?
It was very cordial.
You had the second refinery in the 1980, how was the performance?
Technology develops everyday and affects the growth of every industry. The second refinery was built by a company called JVC. After that period of time, as people who love development, it is not everything the people hear that is happening in Rivers State. There is a company doing business and it would be putting fears into the minds of others by telling them not to go to a location so they can have monopoly. I am an advocate of peace and I rose to being an eminent ambassador of peace.
When the refineries were built, there was seamless transition to sending the oil out from the community, at what point did we miss the road?
It was due to lack of information, cooperation, intelligence gathering and not knowing the mind of the people. If the government knows what the communities want, the communities would be submissive and will help to build the nation. When the second refinery documentation was done, I was there and even when they came to the refurbishment. I know how I helped the company to achieve their dream because I love encouragement and for my people to be carried along, but some things were not done. Apart from some managers who feel that if the refinery were in their area, then they will help the community but most of them help. That is why when small issues that can be settled come up, we make a lot of noise. It is based on individuals who do not realise why they are there to head some government establishments.
The refineries give income to Nigeria and multinationals, why do you think they degenerated?
This is because most of the companies stepped back from their social responsibilities and don’t think about the people. The federal government will also say they have put some money for development but who is monitoring it and checking the corporate social responsibility fund? Sometimes, you don’t need to give appointments to those in the higher seats rather go to the grassroots. Rivers State is a very beautiful place but the problem is that others paint a bad image for it.
The community-company-conflict could be solved with just little compromise. Some of the companies there don’t pay their tenement rate, which is a part of development of the society but most of them take them away. We don’t need to resort to violence when we get what is meant for us, so give the people their rights so that violence will be curtailed because whatever you lose during crises, you can’t regain it.
How do you feel when production stopped completely?
Most of our people depended on the production, sometimes the federal government needs to listen. Some of us who are in the village know the area. You are bringing in a company to set up in a community without the community being carried along, what do you expect to happen? It will collapse. For example, road construction, if you go to the Port Harcourt refinery, the road is not good.
But, whose fault is it?
The fault knows where it is coming from. Eleme Local Government is one of the richest in Nigeria, and it hosts important infrastructures like the harbour, ocean terminal, two refineries, pipeline organisations and Indorama fertiliser, but the road is not good. The NDDC was in charge of the road and a lot of promises were made but nothing was done. This will affect the economic development of the people and when that happens, the chain reaction will affect the national economy.
What will you say on allegations that there is complicity between communities and thieves that come from outside the country to steal oil?
We have a security network in the country that can help and they can involve the community to help stop it, but they refused. The community’s social responsibility must be adopted for us to move forward.
During the administration of Obasanjo, the restiveness was at its peak. Was it that the government was not talking to the administrators exploring the oil?
Individual countries have their peculiar problems and there is restiveness all over the world. What we need to do is to make everybody a security officer. There is a country that has checked the checker system, where each person is monitoring themselves.
I am sure you meet with all layers of people, are they giving you reasons why we are unable to contain the issue of restiveness?
When you set up an intelligence system ten years ago, their numbers won’t meet up with the population of the country now. We need to recruit more people to be able to overcome these things. We have one of the best security networks and policing in the world. If we don’t have the best army, why will they be sought after by world organisations?
There are allegations of the military being complicit in some of the problems we have, is that true?
No, the government should give them all they need like instruments and others. I grew up in the barracks and also served as an army officer so I understand them. The training of the Nigerian army should be well encouraged by Nigerians. You should know they have blood and water in them and also have families. The security network is more than any company you have.
Are you saying they are not being taken care of?
We should talk about modern equipment for them. You can see what is happening in the war between Russia and Ukraine, Ukraine did not have the weapons but when it was given, they started performing well. So, the army should be given the equipment and we will be surprised with the work they will do. People should not interfere in their work because insurgency is really worrying this country right now and the economy is going down. Economy will improve when there is peace and harmony in the system. So, we must not leave the policing of our nation in the hands of security men alone.
How can the community be brought in?
Involve them. I was a boy scout and today a member of the Boy’s Brigade. We go into some issues, we watch, check and know. Community should be empowered to know who is entering their community. In London, you will see some old women getting engaged in one way or the other, but in Nigeria, we try to do away with our retirees who still have the intelligence to watch and know the terrain. You will see a young man who has worked in the Nigerian army and is still gallant, if you retire him, get him somewhere. Remember when the USA had the problem of the 9/11 terrorists attack, they started teaching people different languages to understand the culture and orientation of these people. Despite the threat, if you speak any language, Americans know. They spent money to achieve all this.
There is this allegation that youths in the Niger Delta region, despite the outreach, keep blowing up pipeline installations. How can you justify that?
Let me correct you on that aspect, our youth are very calm. Youth restiveness is a global issue. It is not peculiar to our area. If the youth of our area are so blunt, I don’t think any federal government establishment will be there. But they are a listening youth. Some of us come out everyday to talk. I love my country; I belong to River State and Eleme Local government. Some misplacement of issues and priorities are the things worrying the people. I don’t have drinking water, good electricity and good roads. This is what is happening in Rivers State. This is a place that you can sleep on the road due to the peace but some people will threaten you not to go. There is no place in this world where there are no problems, including America.
But they manage them more than ours?
They manage theirs because they have the mechanism to know or detect anyone that moves into their communities. When anyone tries to cause problems in their community, somebody will call the police. If you call the police here, how many will come? The number of policemen we have here is not enough to serve the population.
Are you worried that Nigeria is not meeting its quota given by OPEC?
We can produce more than the OPEC quota by getting to the people involved and informing them of the implications as well as providing some of the infrastructures.
With the amnesty programme, Ministry of Niger Delta and the Niger Delta Development Commission, someone will be tempted to ask what more do you want?
When you appoint the wrong people, the message can’t get to the people. Until the federal government goes down to the local communities to give appointments, these issues won’t be resolved. You don’t need to appoint someone for them when they know the person can’t deliver. The governor of Rivers State once implemented a policy of local government chairmen being in their local community or leave the seat. For instance, I stay in the village so when there is a riot, I will know or protest because I am there.
But people will not come from heaven to do these things, most of the people heading these portfolios are all from the region and your children, is it that they do not listen to you or the government doesn’t consult you before picking them?
Government needs to consult us, there should be no political issue in appointing those who will be at the helm of office. I am not talking about the region alone but in every part of the country. As long as Nigeria is concerned, don’t just give appointments to those who don’t know the value of that appointment. Give it to those who have the people at heart. Development is in the hands of those who want to be developed and it shouldn’t be about sympathy.
The government should listen to our cries and ask us what we need. The federal government is our father so it needs to come close to hear what we want. I know it is not easy to be a leader; sometimes the leader sends messages to people to develop an area and before you know it, some of them go like a bullet and can’t come back to tell the father what they saw there.
How did you feel when they said work has started at the Port Harcourt refinery?
I am so happy because that is my home. We are trying to give every support for the refinery to come back. We know the company has mobilised and people are at the site now. But there are things the community needs them to do for us all to move along.
The pattern has been that the government will pump money into these refineries but nothing comes out from them after, how sure are we that this time around, there will be a difference?
I am not trying to praise the present MD of the refinery; I know the government of Rivers State is very willing to ensure the refinery takes off. If anybody says they are not doing anything, it is a lie. We want it to start because it is our right, if any government has failed to do the refineries, this one has done it. We thank the president and the Governor of Rivers State who are making it possible that the refineries should work. The community is also giving them support. There might be disagreements but if the people doing the job are not considering the rights of the people, that is where problems come in. These companies that came up to start the company formed a committee to handle how to interface with local communities and we have an MoU. For us, we want the refinery to work.
How safe will these assets be?
When the people are carried along, it will be safe. When people come together and have a common understanding, there won’t be any problem but if a party decides to cheat, there will be problems.
Transcribed by Umar Farouk
