National Chairman of HOSCON, Prince Mike Emuh who made the call yesterday at Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra state, while inaugurating a 15-man State Executive Committee and Governing Council of HOSCON for Anambra state, also charged the three major oil and gas companies operating in the state to implement the Local Content Act in favour of traditional rulers of oil and gas producing communities in the state.
Emuh disclosed that now that the state government has agreed to work with oil and gas producing communities in the state, vis-a-vis the recent setting up of an 11-man Anambra Oil and Gas Committee by Governor Willie Obiano, government needed to provide the enabling environment to ensure a smooth take-off of master plans so far put in motion by HOSCON to tap the God-given mineral resources bequeathed to the state.
He contended that the setting up of the new state HOSCON executive and Governing Council was to enable the state chapter of HOSCON settle down for work with immediate effect, adding that the idea was made possible as a result of good work done by the Peace Reconciliation Committee set up by the national body of HOSCON to reconcile all the existing factions in Anambra HOSCON and to restore peace.
The state HOSCON leadership has Hon Anthony Chiokwe as its chairman, while Charles Egwuonwu is chairman of the Governing Council, just as Victor Emeka and Bonny iloegbune are the secretaries and treasurer respectively.
Other members of the committee included Alex Akora, Chief Security Officer, CSO, Cletus Okoye, Protocol; Gabriel Okafor, Admin Secretary; Ejike Anselm, financial secretary; Sunday Okechui, provost, Nnamdi Ugboma, publicity secretary; Benson Ajie, Pastor Ezeh Innocent, Anazali Okwudiasi, Sampson Mabia and Nwachukwu Sunday.
According to the HOSCON national chairman, “I sincerely appreciate the contributions of Anambra State Government, ANSG, the state council of traditional rulers, the state leaders of thought, community leaders and high profile chiefs who had contributed one way or the other in making the inauguration of the new state executive a huge success.”
He, therefore, called on all oil and gas producing communities in the country to embrace peace, unity and speak with one voice to the International Oil Companies, IOCs and the National Oil Companies, NOCs and to work cap in hand with the good government of President Muhammadu Buhari who he said is now giving a listening ear to HOSCON, with the engagement of 10,000 youths from the oil – producing states of the federation who were recently recruited for oil and gas pipelines surveillance.
He commended the federal government for the implementation of gas flay penalty tax in favour of HOSCON, effecting a direct payment of 13 percent oil derivation to HOSCON, ensuring quick implementation of 10 Modular refineries and gas plant policy, release of licenses to HOSCON with a quick waver with a quick waver, as well as for seeing HOSCON as the only Niger Delta body that is creating an enabling environment in order to attract foreign investors to establish oil and gas industries all over the country.
“I wholeheartedly appreciate the agitators from Niger Delta region for obeying HOSCON’s call for cease fire since 14 months now, which has led to the stoppage of illegal refineries, pipeline vandalism, reduction of oil bunkering to less than 20 percent and above all, ensuring the stoppage of all other illegal oil and gas activities in the Niger Delta region. The federal government should not hesitate to reward HOSCON for the good work they had done for the past 14 months.”