Indigenes of Aguleri in Anambra State have insisted, yesterday, that the oil deposits in their land was not in contention, noting that ongoing altercation over oil deposit in Anambra River Basin was due to what they described as confusion caused by armchair geographers.
Aguleri hosts Orient Petroleum Resources Plc, commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan during his recent visit to Anambra State.
At a meeting hosted by the traditional ruler of Aguleri, Igwe Christopher Idigo IV and attended by members of the Igwe’s cabinet, leaders of thought and youths of the area, Aguleri people, said that from the arguments since the oil facility was commissioned, it would appear that the people of Kogi and Enugu states laying claim to the oil wells did not know the location of the wells in question.
They noted that as people known for always standing for truth, honour and justice no matter the circumstances, they were confirming once and for all, the ownership of Anambra River oil wells in OPL 915 located in Aguleri Otu.
Responding to the claims by Aguleri people, a public commentator, Ola Folarin said the oil well located in Anambra is dry and the once they’re exploring is located in Kogi State.
Folarin said, “Igwe, with all due respect you are thief and an unrepentant land-grabber. There are 4 oil blocks in question; 1 in Enugu,1 in Kogi and 2 in Anamabra”
“The Oil Block in Aguleri (Anambra state) is not producing a single oil drop while the oil block in Ibaji LGA of Kogi state is the controversial oil block.The Ibaji Oil block has large deposits of commercial crude unlike the Aguleri block which is dry”
“Efforts have been made in the past to explore oil from the 2 oil blocks within Anambra state but was unsuccessful.Orient Petroleum was then awarded the Kogi Oil block to explore and refine oil. That is the fact.”
“Anambra is not an oil producing state but Kogi state within whom its borders the oil block is located”
