According to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Development Law Act of 2010, Chevron "is mandated" to provide "a reasonable percentage of every employment to the Itsekiri people", according to Mr. Collins Edema, Former National President of the National Association of Itsekiri Graduates (NAIG) and current sole representative of the Olu of Warri to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
"We cannot continue to be slaves in our homeland. [...] We are going to do everything within the ambit of the law to ensure that our voices are heard. Chevron oppression is [grounded] in Itsekiri land," Mr. Edema stresses.
Chevron's actions are described as a "slap in the face of the community" by Mr. Ben Eburajolo, acting National President of NAIG.
After writing a letter of inquiry that got ignored, the NAIG decided to take action to "shut down" Chevron's facility. Mr. Eburajolo explains that Chevron undertook "backyard employment" by failing to advertise job offers via "national publication", thereby not informing the local Itsekiri population.
"It's a peaceful protest. It is a peaceful shut-down. No break of law and order. We just want to get what rightly belongs to us, to the Itsekiri nation," Mr. Eburajolo states.
To hear what else the Itsekiri representatives had to say, check out the entire episode of the AfroVerdict podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
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