From Francis Sadhere, Asaba

A community advocate, Zik Gbemre has strongly condemned the recent protest that led to the shutdown of the Utorogun Gas Plant on April 3.

The protest, which was purportedly organized by 28 OML 34 host communities, has been described as “ill-advised, reckless, and shameful” by Gbemre.

Gbemre, who spoke to our correspondent during the weekend, emphasized that while he supports genuine efforts to address legitimate grievances, the shutdown approach is unacceptable and poorly executed.

Gbemre expressed concern over the disorganized nature of the protest, stressing that many of those speaking on behalf of the communities appeared uninformed about the issues at hand.

One of the most critical aspects of his condemnation was the absence of key stakeholders from the protest, such as the leaders of the actual host communities of Utorogun Gas Plant, including Otughievwen, Otor-Udu and Iwhrekan.

“The protesters failed to represent the true interests of the host communities. Where were the PIA (Petroleum Industry Act) leaders? Where were the community EXCOs and aggrieved workers?” Gbemre questioned.

Gbemre further criticized the supposed “HOSTCOM,” a group that led the protest but is not officially recognized as a representative of the Utorogun Gas Plant host communities.

He accused the group of being a political construct designed to mislead the public and create chaos. “The so-called HOSTCOM is nothing more than a fabricated entity by political jobbers to give a false impression of legitimacy,” he argued.

The protestors voiced grievances including unpaid scholarship arrears, calls for higher wages for community workers, demands for better accommodations, and issues regarding the release of PIA HCDB funds.

However, Gbemre pointed out that none of these concerns were properly articulated or addressed by those who should have been leading the charge.

Adding to the absurdity of the protest, some participants made outrageous claims that undermined the protest’s credibility.

One protester falsely stated that the Utorogun Gas Plant supplies electricity to parts of the country, despite the plant only being involved in gas production for power generation.

Another protester claimed that oil extraction had destroyed the land to the extent that crops could no longer grow, a statement Gbemre found both nonsensical and damaging to the cause.

Gbemre emphasized that protests should never be the first resort for resolving issues. “We believe in dialogue, consultation, and peaceful negotiations. Resorting to protests without prior discussions is counterproductive and will not solve any problem,” he said.

He urged the leaders of Otughievwen, Otor-Udu and Iwhrekan communities to stand firm and reject any efforts to disrupt the operations at the Utorogun Gas Plant.

Gbemre condemned the alleged financial support for the protest, claiming that NEPL (NPDC) had provided N15 million to the organizers, which he believed encouraged the shutdown of critical infrastructure.

He called for greater investment in the region, rather than fostering a culture of unrest.

Gbemre reiterated his commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the host communities of Utorogun Gas Plant. “We are a peaceful people with a strong tradition of resolving differences without resorting to protests or violence. We must not allow external actors to sow discord in our land,” he added.

The protest, and the subsequent condemnation, continues to stir debate in the region, as the future of the Utorogun Gas Plant and its impact on local communities remains uncertain.