Ethnic crises looms as Niger Delta agitators accuses Chevron of nepotism.

Niger Delta agitators under the umbrella body of Niger Delta visionary agitators forum have alleged act of nepotism against Chevron, they accused the oil firm of favouring the itsekiri ethnic group over the Ijaws and Ilajes who are also hosts of the Ogbudugbudu/ Adagbarasa Benin River oil block oleru field communities.

The group in a letter addressed to the firm signed by their leader, Gen. Younge Torudi-wei, he called on President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on one Mr. Monday Ovuede (08035352709), JV Director, Chevron, who they said has not been fair in management of the issue.

The group decried neglection and high level environmental degradation, noting that hosts Community demands like Electrification, Internal community roads, Employment, Contracts, Hospital, Water, were not looked upon.

" On-going jobs such as repairs/replacement of pipelines and fabrication/pipelines call-out contracts are strictly awarded to Itsekiri ethnic contractors without even a consideration of the Ijaws and Ilajes. Let us remind you that these pipelines do not run on Itsekiri community alone but cuts across the Ijaw and Ilaje lands. It is unacceptable to have such jobs awarded to one ethic group when indeed the scope cut across the region.

Parts of the letter reads below:

" As if this is not enough, our attention has now been drawn to the secret manner by which Chevron privately is constituting community Petroleum Industrial Act (PIA) representatives without reference to the community leaders. This is against the PIA and a direct affront to our communities, which will not be tolerated any further.

" This letter is to draw the management attention to right the wrongs forthwith and retrace their steps as we are poised to match our words with action that will certainly threaten the peace currently been enjoyed.

" The entire Ijaw communities are presently open to an environmental hazard due to the neglect and outright unsafe conditions along pipelines that traversed the length and breadth of Ijaw. Ilaje and Itsekiri communities. We have always acknowledged that Chevron is known for high level of professionalism in terms of safety because she prized safety above production and profit.

" Chevron Operational Excellence (OE) has as one of its key values 'protection of its environment. Let us make bold to quote Chevron OE statement; "Operational Excellence (OE) puts into action our Chevron Way value of protecting people and the environment and helps us achieve Chevron's vision to be the global energy company most admired for its people, partnership and performance', but sadly we note that all the safety signage along the pipeline routes of Chevron operations are either collapsed, destroyed or defaced, such that vessels can run into the pipes and signage without knowing. The safety implication can best be imagined than allowed to happen. It is a time bomb waiting to explode.

Chevron appears not to be bothered and all their efforts are suddenly geared toward production and profit with little or no regards for Safety, which is their numbers 1, 2 and 3 values (No.1 Safety; No.2 Safety: No.3 Safety) before anything else, but we hardly see this on this occasion. The reason is not far-fetched; because it is the communities around the pipeline routes that will be affected should there be any incident. This is wicked and uncalled for".