By Emma Arubi
WARRI — CHEVRON’s development outfit for Itsekiri oil and gas producing communities in its area of operation, the Itsekiri Regional Development Council, IRDC, yesterday, said that the body was not created by Chevron to cater for the developmental and employment needs of all Itsekiris and their communities.

The IRDC said that it was responsible for only 23 oil and gas bearing communities so far and therefore, appealed to Chevron not to direct every Itsekiri development and employment issues to them as it amounted to creating a very wrong impression in the minds of people and the general public.

These were some of the resolutions reached at the end of an enlarged meeting of the council at its secretariat in Warri and addressed by its Chairman, Mr. Mofe Pirah. He stressed that it was  only accountable to people from the 23 oil and gas communities and its mandate areas.

Pirah said a group recently threatening a showdown with Chevron over their continued dealings with the Mofe Pirah–led IRDC executives, alleging that the council was made up of persons whose communities do not even produce oil. He said the hue and cry against them stems purely from envy, greed and inordinate ambition to wrest power from them by all means.

According to Pirah, a general meeting of all stakeholders in Itsekiri land would be convened in late January to present their stewardship report that would contain a detailed account of the origin, mandate, income and expenditure till date, adding “that would provide ample opportunity for people to ask questions and clear their minds of any doubt”.

The IRDC however advised Chevron to take adequate security measures to protect their facilities following the threat issued by the Itsekiri New Dawn who called for a proper account of their stewardship for the period covering the GMOU.