Following the deplorable state of the Eleme section of the East-West Road in Rivers State, a group of ex-agitators of Ogoni extraction are now threatening to shutdown the Port Harcourt Refining Company and other international companies in the area.
The ex-agitators, operating under the aegis of Ogoni Living Martyrs, named other businesses in the area that would be affected by the action to include the Indorama Eleme Petro-Chemical Company and the Notorea Fertiliser Company.
They said that the action would compel the Federal Government to commence construction on the road, which had been ignored for decades despite its proximity to vital national assets such as the Nigeria Ports Authority and the Oil and Gas Free Zone.
According to the ex-agitators, many Ogoni people and other Nigerians have lost their lives on the road as a result of regular crashes.
Kpuebari Marcus, Coordinator of the Ogoni Living Martyrs, told reporters in Port Harcourt that they plan to destroy the nation’s economy and force the government to repair the road.
“Many Ogoni people and other Nigerians have died while using that road, we want to close the businesses because we are losing our brothers and sisters daily.
“This administration has little regard for the Ogoni people. We understand that closing these businesses would have an impact on the government because the businesses will not pay taxes,” he said.
On his part, Barinuazor Emmanuel, President of the National Youth Council of the Ogoni People, said the poor status of the Eleme portion of the East-West Road is now unacceptable.
“We have no choice but to suspend all economic activities, and we are not waiting for anyone’s permission.”
“We will shut down Indorama, Notorea, NNPC, and the other 200 companies in Eleme at any time, because we gave a 14-day ultimatum that expired three weeks ago.”
“All they did was invite the National Assembly Committee on NDDC. They promised to restore the road by the end of last month (August), and that money will be available from the NNPC. Nothing has been done since September,” he stated.
