The traditional ruler of Atijere Kingdom in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, the Malokun of Atijere, Oba Adeoye Samuel, has threatened that the community may stage a protest to draw the attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to an alleged plan to exclude them from activities surrounding the controversial Eba Island oil well.

Oba Samuel alleged that despite Atijere community’s proximity to the oil-rich Eba Island, the community seems to have been sidelined in ongoing discussions and decisions relating to the oil well.

The monarch, who spoke to The Nation, vowed that the protest would be aimed at attracting the intervention of the Federal government to ensure justice and fairness in the allocation of benefits and recognition connected to the controversial oil field.

He maintained that Atijere Kingdom has historical and geographical ties to Eba Island and should not be excluded from any arrangements concerning the oil well, asking all the relevant authorities to address the grievances before they escalate.

Oba Adeoye said while Atijere remained committed to supporting development and oil exploration in the area, the community would not allow its rights to be undermined, warning that residents are already losing their patience over the ongoing without being carried along.

“What we want is that our rights should be given to us. We must be considered as part of the oil-producing community. And if they want to do anything there, they must come to Atijere. They must come and discuss with us.

“They have been discussing with only Makomi people and maybe Ode-Omi. They refuse to come and discuss with us. We are the rightful owners. Even if they say we are not the rightful owners, we are an integral part of that place because our village, the back of our village, is where the oil is situated.

“We will mobilise. We will make sure that we occupy the place. We are defending our place. We will occupy the place. We will protest. It is our right to protest. We have the right to protest. We have the capacity to protest,” he said.

The monarch insisted that Eba Island belongs to Ondo State, warning against to attempts to sideline Atijere Kingdom despite its proximity to the oil-producing area.

He further argued that the controversy surrounding Eba Island only emerged after the discovery of crude oil in the area, noting that the island had existed for decades as part of the Ondo State forest reserve without any ownership dispute.

He alleged that representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and contractors had been engaging other communities while excluding Atijere in Ilaje LGA from discussions concerning the project.

The traditional ruler maintained that the National Boundary Commission (NBC) was aware of the dispute but had yet to make a final determination on the ownership of the territory, stressing that no state should unilaterally claim the area pending the commission’s decision.

“It is the duty of the National Boundary Commission to determine the boundary between two states. It is not the duty of Ogun State to determine the boundary. As long as there is a dispute, no state can lay claim to that place for now,” he stated.

Oba Adeoye also faulted recent claims by the Ogun State Government regarding the oil discovery, urging political leaders not to politicise the issue or make pronouncements capable of escalating tensions between the neighbouring states.

“I want to advise the Ogun State Government not to heat up the polity and not to politicise that place. Nobody has given that place to Ogun State. The boundary commission is the appropriate authority to determine ownership,” he added.

The monarch further claimed that surveys and other preliminary activities were already ongoing on the island, warning prospective investors against purchasing land in the disputed area without involving Atijere and other affected communities.

He called on the Federal Government, NNPC and project contractors to engage all the contending kingdoms, including Atijere, Makomi, Ode-Omi and Urukun, to ensure peace and prevent future disputes. (The Nation)