Kantu/Odidi Core Indigenous Contractors Forum on Saturday during a protest shutdown the Odidi flow station OML42) operated by Neconde Energy Company Limited.
The heavy downpour could not stop the contractors who carried placards with different inscriptions during the protest.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards read thus, “Neconde must go, NNP/NPDC please come to our aid, Nigeria Police help us, Obijackson Group of Companies must go, pay our contractors or leave our land, President Muhammadu Buhari, please save us from this slavery, we are dying of hunger, Governor Okowa please hear our cries”.
The protesters who are mainly from Kantu/Odidi Communities in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State said their soured relationships with the Oil firm made them to shut down the flow station.
In a chat with newsmen, the Chairman of Kantu/Odidi Core Indigenous Contractors Forum, Hon. Timinimi said the company did not live up to expectations with the contractors.
Also in a chat with newsmen, the Mobilization Officer of Kantu/Odidi Contractors Forum, Hon. Friday Deinghan said the shutdown of the flow station is the best option for the people.
He said they can no longer keep quiet on the face of glaring oppression and neo-colonisation foisted on them by Neconde Energy Company Limited and its group of companies.
Hon. Friday claimed that Neconde Energy Company Limited has been treating the contractors as slaves by withholding their payments for several months.
He pointed out that some contractors are owed 16 months of their salaries while others are being owed 14, 12 and 10 months respectively.
Hon. Friday said the non-payment of the contractors had brought untold hardship to them and their families stressing that,” it is not easy to cope under such circumstances.”
