Lack of commitment to implementation of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), by International Oil Corporations (lOCs), operating in Delta State, has been identified as a major bane in the development of host communities.
Equally, the host communities have been advised to remain united and shun divisive tendencies that would lead to discordant tunes within their ranks while signing MoUs with lOCs operating in their communities
This was the view of the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta State, Dr. Peter Adogbejire Mrakpor, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), while granting audience to the executives and members of the lndigenous Correspondents Chapel (ICC), of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council ,at his official Chambers in Asaba, the State capital.
The Delta State Chief law officer said the often repeated habit by the lOCs of not keeping with the spirit and letters of the MoUs they signed with the host communities almost always breeds tension that if not managed, could snowball into hostilities with casualties and the inevitable shutting down of operations of the lOCs.
The Commissioner for Justice, expressed hope that once the Petroleum lndustry Bill (PIB) is signed into law, the various components especially that of the local content act, would guarantee full fledged prosperity and stability for host communities in not only Delta, but also other oil bearing communities across the nation
Describing the current security situation in the country as “worrisome”, Dr. Mrakpor, charged the media to be circumspect and see themselves as partners in progress by virtue of their strategic agenda setting functions to society.
Said the Delta HAG and Commissioner for Justice: “security is everyone’s business. Let’s not be under the illusion that it’s government’s business alone. So long as we live in a particular geographical location, we are duty bound to be sensitive to happenings around our environment”.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Chapel, Comrade Andrew Akpo Emephia, said his Chapel exco, leaders and members were in the HAG’s Chambers to congratulate him on his elevation as Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), by the Body of Benchers.
The ICC Chairman therefore sought the collaboration of his Chapel and the Justice Ministry towards making inputs that would help fashion out laws for the good of the people at the grassroots level by virtue of the fact that the chapel is the umbrella body for all practicing and qualified journalists writing for community based newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations ,as well as reputable online media houses in Delta State.
