Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has called on the people of Okoro-Utip in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State to come together in their pursuit of justice from both the government and oil companies operating in their community.
This appeal comes as a response to reported incidents of sabotage and division that have hindered efforts to hold the government and oil companies accountable for environmental degradation in the area.
During a ‘Cycle of Reflection’ meeting with farmers at the Okoro Utip Community Hall, Stephen Oduware, the Project Lead of HOMEF, emphasized that oil companies often use tactics of blackmail, intimidation, and division to discourage locals from demanding their rights.
Oduware recounted past instances where the community faced military force when they attempted to protest against ongoing gas flaring and the lack of employment opportunities for their youth and women in the oil companies. He suggested that if the community had stood together, the oil companies would not have succeeded in intimidating them.
Oduware encouraged the community to unite and demand what is rightfully theirs, as HOMEF cannot fight for them in their absence. He stressed the importance of community solidarity and the need for the people of Okoro-Utip to come together for a common cause.
He said, “You cannot fight for the community in their absence, so they have to know the rudiments and intrigues on how to go about it, to demand justice and stop gas flaring and other social injustices. These companies thrive on blackmail, disunity, intimidation, and fear. We want to assure them that when you are united, you will have victory.”
Comrade Umoh Isuah-Ikoh, the Coordinator of Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF), also encouraged the community to set aside self-centeredness, ethnic or cultural differences, and work in solidarity to ensure the restoration of their environment and fair compensation for the impact of gas flaring and oil spills in their farmlands.
He emphasized the need for a unified voice, irrespective of gender biases, and urged the community to support women’s participation in the cause for the overall well-being of the people.
