Hundreds of women and youths from Umuokoroka village, in Asa community, Ohaji/Egbema, Imo State, have expressed strong opposition to alleged exclusion from the signing of the Freedom To Operate (FTO) and Job Order agreement between Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited and some town union leaders.

The angry protesters, including youths and elderly individuals, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Give us back our land,” “Give us our rights, we are humans,” and “We need to see the FTO agreement.”

They chanted war songs and claimed they were tricked into signing an agreement that turned out to be an outright sale.

Speaking to newsmen in Owerri on Saturday, the oldest man in the Umuigwe kindred in Umuokoroka, Chief Celestine Azuoma Orji, alleged that Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited tricked them into signing a document that purported to transfer ownership of their land, contrary to the agreed-upon lease arrangement for oil exploration.

Orji, 80, claimed that the oil company secretly partnered with certain Town Union leaders to marginalise the Umuokoroka kindred in the FTO and Job Order signing process.

“The oil company, through some of its personnel allegedly colluded with some Town Union leaders to sign the Freedom To Operate (FTO) and Job Order agreements without involving the landowners or the kindred contact person,” he complained.

This unilateral action sparked outrage, particularly since the company has begun rigging operations on the site, creating job opportunities that the Umuokoroka kindred feels it has been unfairly excluded from.

“This action has the potential to cause unrest in the community. These oil companies deliberately act in ways that ignite violence in communities because they collude with individuals to the detriment of collective interests,” he pointed out.

Another respected elder from the community Chief David Ogbuanu, represented by Joel Emezuo, appealed to the Hope Uzodimma-led government to intervene in the ongoing dispute, calling for a halt to the rigging process until the Umuokoroka kindred, as landowners, are properly included in the FTO and Job Order agreements.

“The Job Order determines the authentic owners of the lands. The principal landowners cannot be short changed by few elements of Town Union leaders.

“We call on our people-oriented and compassionate Governor Hope Uzodimma to wade in and fish out the elements from the Town Union leaders who have sabotaged the agreement of the community. We cry to Government to save us from the arm twisting of the oil company and stop all processes until the principal landowners are carried along in the exercise”.

Efforts to reach the Community Relations Manager of Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited for comment were unsuccessful.

He did not respond to calls, texts, or WhatsApp messages as of the time of filing the report. (The Nation)