CONCERNED SPDC EA HOST COMMUNITIES FORUM TO PROTEST MARGINALIZATION, CALLS FOR SACK OF NCDMB EXECUTIVE SECRETARY 

The Concerned SPDC EA Host Communities Forum, an umbrella body of host communities of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has resolved to embark on a protest to press home their demand for President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote, for abuse of office and breach of public trust.

The Forum made their decision known through a recent letter written to President Buhari on 3 October 2022 and co-signed on behalf of the SPDC host communities by Prince Amos G. Ezetu (Bisangbene Community), Jonah Engineyouwei (Amatu 1 Community), Chief Alex Oboitu (Letugbene Community), Chief David Hiemogha (Agge Community), and Mr. Sagbegha Jude (Ogbeintu Community).

Recall that the Forum had earlier written a letter, dated April 14, 2022 (but made available to news men on May 6, 2022) wherein it called on President Buhari to with immediate effect invoke his powers as contained in Section 81 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Development (NOGID) Act 2010 to sack Engr. Wabote whom the Forum describes as "a person not fit and proper to hold the said office" and is "so corrupt".

The Forum had went ahead to accuse the NCDMB Executive Secretary of denying host communities contracts, but going ahead to award same to himself and his other cronies, while as a former staff of the SPDC he has been corruptly shielding SPDC's violations of the provisions of the NOGID Act 2010, among others.

The Forum had also accused Engr. Wabote of disobedience to court order served on him and brought about by a legal action by one Mr. Goodnews Gereghewei against him and the NCDMB Board at the Federal High Court of Yenagoa Division with suit Number FHC/YNG/CS/50/2020, and that in addition, contempt of court (Form 48) (disobedience) which was to be served on him dated 24th Feb, 2O21 which he evaded service twice, and ran to the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt and filed an Appeal with Appeal Suit Number CA/PH/115/2021 with the sole aim to delay justice.

In its recent letter, the Forum stated that his (Engr. Wabote) flagrant disobedience to court order and his always shuttling abroad "as if he is travelling from Yenagoa to Port Harcourt all the time" has prompted their decision to embark on a protest, adding that "He (Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote) continued stay in that Board (NCDMB) will cause more crisis in the Niger Delta and create more rooms for corruption in the Board."

The Forum further said that it would take its protest which is fixed for October 31, 2022 "to the British (UK), America (US) and other European Embassies, whose countries he (Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote) always travels to, in order for those countries not to allow him into their countries" for his refusal to "obey the rule of law in his own country (Nigeria) needs not to be accepted into their countries" and that it "shall also press for the cancellation of all those VISAS issued to him by those countries, let him be in his country to face the Appeal Court case."

The Forum called on Engr. Wabote to obey the court order on him, while it also challenged the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB that "if he has nothing to hide, why is he refusing to obey the court order"?

The Forum therefore said that it can no longer tolerate Engr. Wabote, while it assured President Buhari that his sack will bring peace and economic prosperity to the Niger Delta people.