The Sole Representative of the Olu of Warri/Liaison Officer to NNPCL and its JV Partners, Prince Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema, has condemned the destruction of the pipeline belonging to Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL in Dibi-Olero-Abiteye Fields, saying: “The attack on Chevron pipeline Facilities, is alien to the ideology of the struggle of the Itsekiri Nation, to get a better deal for our people in terms of employment, infrastructure and welfare.”

Edema, who made the assertion, in a statement widely syndicated to newsmen this evening, Wednesday said: “It has come to the knowledge of the Sole Representative of the Olu of Warri/Liaison Officer to NNPCL and its JV Partners that there is palpable air of disenchantment with Chevron Nigeria Limited over issues of employment of people of the host communities, particularly in the three Warris of Warri South-West, Warri North, and Warri South Local Government Areas, -an advocacy, this office has actively been engaging with Chevron to accommodate Itsekiri people.”

The Warri Monarch’s Rep noted: “While His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the Olu of Warri, empathizes with Chevron over the recent attack on its pipelines in the Dibi-Olero-Abiteye trunk line and Flow Stations, it is important to use this opportunity to appeal to our youths to remain calm, as this office is actively engaging Chevron over unresolved unemployment issues.

“We understand that our youths are frustrated over the situation that portrays Chevron is taking people from Host Communities for granted, but such frustration cannot be allowed to metamorphose into such lawless behavior as attacking critical assets by any of our people.

“We restate our commitment to a safe and warm operational environment to Chevron and other IOCs in Itsekiri land, even as we trust that security agencies will spare no stone unturned in fishing out perpetrators of the pipeline destruction.

“It is also noteworthy to mention that the condemnable incident is not connected to the legal channels our people have been exploring to address lingering employment issues with Chevron.

“We shall continue to engage with Chevron to find ways of absorbing qualified Itsekiris into the crude oil giant and other oil and gas companies operating in Warri Kingdom.”