How Indorama-Eleme Petrochemicals, other coys can survive in host communities – Monarch

Eleme is the industrial hub of Nigeria, east of the Niger, with over 200 companies in steady operation but insecurity and violent protests against businesses have always been an issue. Now, a revered chief and elder in the area, Emere Joseph Oluji, in this exclusive interview with GODWIN EGBA outlines recent developments that would guarantee more industrial harmony with indorama-Eleme Petrochemicals and other big companies in the area. He also made a case for the upgrade of some traditional rulers to first class. Excerpts:

How can other Nigerians know you?

Yes, I am a chief and elder, Emere Joseph Oluji, justice of the peace, from Aleto Nchia Eleme. Currently, I am the traditional ruler of Ewu-u community and secretary to the Aleto clan chiefs and elders. I am a retired college principal after 15 years (1996 – 2011) in service. I graduated from the University of Port-Harcourt (1980-1984) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education/History. I am now a farmer and a servant-leader to my home community people.

There are multinational companies operating in Eleme land such as Indorama petrochemical, can you say they are not doing beyond the efforts of Chief Chu in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the Eleme people?

I cannot compare him as an individual with any company in Eleme but my prayer is that let the multinational companies which Eleme is a host entity to emulate what he (Appolus Chu) is doing freely.

Where do you fault Indorama here?

In the area of employment, the Indorama petrochemical company is doing its best by employing our qualified youths from the six host communities. At least we have some of our highly placed youths in the Account and Administrative departments.

Are you aware that there are good number of unemployment youths in the host communities?

Yes, and that is why I am appealing to the management to expand the scope of its employment opportunities to accommodate the employable youths. The few youths under their employ are not enough compared to their enormous operations and the memorandum of understanding (MoU) binding the company and its host communities.

How do you substantiate that?

It is simple, because the population of Eleme-speaking employees is very scanty compared to the total population of workers there. Another and worst thing there is that the company pays the workers through labour contractors whereby the workers are always short changed in their monthly wages. For instance, a labour contractor would collect the sum of N 100,000.00 as salary per worker’s head but turns back to pay a worker N 50,000.00 or below.

Are these labour contractors not from the host communities?

They are both Eleme and non-indigenes. I am appealing that the system should be totally abolished because it is nothing but an outright human exploitation. One thing again, the management should observe and implement the employment terms of the federal ministry of labour and productivity, that states that, 60 percent of junior cadre should come from or exclusive reserve of the host communities, and they should not be deprived of their socio benefits such as electricity power supply and scholarships among others.

Do the host communities have problems with that of Indorama?

From my observation, Indorama-Eleme Petrochemicals Company has four gas power generating turbines but at least one should be extended to the host communities. That is not the case as we have always been in black out. We have made several appeals to the company but no positive response. That is why we are experiencing protest every now and then. My stand is to continue to appeal to the management to avoid unnecessary protect because I am not comfortable with that.

As a chief of your community, are you comfortable with the Governor Nyesom Wike’s dissolution of Elano’s relationship with the Indorama host communities?

I am happy and comfortable with the government action aimed at forestalling desiring peace between the two parties. I am appealing to both parties to accept the government decision in good spirit to avoid bloodshed because I have not seen any war without bloodshed, destruction of lives or property. I also appeal to the Aleto and Akpajo host communities to come together in unity and settle their differences out of court to enable them to enjoy their portion of the share dividends as other host communities have been enjoying and progressing from theirs.

How would this affect the peaceful atmosphere since the dissolution of the two parties and the new solutions put in place by the government?

Fresh dew of peace has begun to permeate the Eleme communities since the resolution mechanism put in place by Governor Wike. Elano is said to be entitled to eight per cent of settlement from each first shares of 2016 and 2017 and subsequent worker’s salaries or wages should be directly handled by the Indorama Management through a Board of Trustees of the Communities.

How soon would the Board of Trustees come on board?

The host community’s opinion leaders have met and appointed two persons each from the six host communities. These people whom we believe are of impeccable character have been appointed. I witnessed it myself and we are now in a dawn of peace. Some youths tagged as Elano who ran away from the communities in the heat of the violence that rocked the communities have started showing up freely. I commended Governor Wike and all the stakeholders from the Eleme Local Government and the management of Indorama for their crises management roles to let peace reign in the Eleme industrial business host community.

From all indications, you are close to most Eleme  leaders of thought demanding for recognition of more traditional chieftaincy stools in Eleme. What is stoking the demand?

Eleme is overdue for more stools. Let me start from second class honours. We ought to have a second class certificate per chief for Odido zone, a second class certificate per chief for Nchia zone, then the 10 clans and heads of Eleme starting from Ogale, Agbonchia, etc, should be given 3rd class certificate. In other Local Government Areas in our Rivers State, they have their first class. Our people have expressed dissatisfaction with one first class chieftaincy stool that has lasted for more than 50 years in the area. It means there is no growth and development. Meanwhile Eleme has 10 clans and in each clan we have about five to six communities with chiefs and even more but without recognition to us. This is unacceptable; our demand is burn out of genuine intention as we speak with one voice.

What then informed your vociferous support for  Appolus Chu, the Egbere Emere 1 of Okori Community as an individual?

I am not alone behind him, but I say without equivocation, that Egbere Emere 1 of Okori Community; His Royal highness, Appolus Chu, has my unalloyed support to be recognised as a first class chief of his Okori Community. Reasons are that: Number one, he is one of the traditional rulers that has endeared himself to the hearts of Eleme people by placing food on the tables of both the rich and the poor through his philanthropic disposition. Number two, he is a liberal leader who does not discriminate; third, he offers scholarships to numerous deserving beneficiaries both in post primary schools and tertiary institutions. The tertiary institutions cover both local and overseas recipients. Number four, he is a source of succour to the wisdoms, orphans and the less privileged in all the 10 Eleme communities you can think of. Number five, he empowers the petty traders in Eleme whether you are an indigene or not especially those trading in Ogale community. Number six, he has a free medical foundation centre where the poor receive free medical treatment and job opportunities. Number seven, he has been able to identify and has brought his Okori community people together. These are people who over the years had been scattered all over other Eleme communities due to some unfortunate circumstances. The list is endless. When the righteous rules, the people rejoice, they say. He wants to assert his first class stool within his Okori community with no inordinate ambition for the stool of Eleme land in the hand of his mentor.

Is he incomparable in the whole of Eleme land that can as well boast of other sons and daughters above him?

I have not implied that, but I call him a messiah of Eleme people this time around. Yes, Eleme people have produced a number of managing directors and chief executive officers of companies in this country, Eleme people have produced commissioners in the state, business tycoons, political leaders from local government and state to the federal levels, but the question is, what is their track record as people who really cared for the affairs of Eleme people if not for themselves and families? If they were doing what Appolus Chu is doing, by now Eleme land and the people would have been uplifted from gross poverty level. It is only his enemies that would jubilate if he is not given the first class stool some of us with the same like mind are clamouring and praying for.

How can you defend that?

I stand to challenge any Eleme man of whatever class or personality to come out and prove me and the person of Appolus wrong. This is not a public relations job about the man. I’m talking about a human being with character that believes in human welfares.