I'll Be Fair To All, Tackle Underdevelopment of Oil Producing Communities, Assures New Edo HOSTCOM Chairman

Hendrix Oliomogbe 

The Edo State chapter of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), weekend in Benin City elected Mr. Kenneth Aduwaye as chairman.

In an atmosphere devoid of rancour and bitterness, Mr. Aduwaye from Gelegele, Ovia North East Local Government Area polled 91 votes to defeat his opponent, Mr. Joseph Igbinovia, who scored 14 in the keenly contested election.

For the position of Secretary, Prince Odion Abumwere was returned unopposed. The vice chairman and other top positions in the body were also returned unopposed.

Security was provided by a combined team of policemen, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NCSDC) and vigilantes during the peaceful election which drew delegates from the 18 local government areas of the state.

Elated, a victorious Mr. Aduwaye said that his priority in the next four years will be the upliftment of rich but poor oil bearing communities of Edo State.

The new chairman lamented that it's cause for deep concern that Edo oil communities lack roads, schools, electricity, modern housing amongst other infrastructure.

Against the backdrop of a raging cold fight between the Ijaws and Benins in the oil bearing communities, he said that his major task is to bring unity and understanding between them.

He said: My agenda is to bring understanding between the Ijaws and Benins so that we can enjoy development. I intend to be a bridge between the Ijaws, which I am and Benin people. God has brought us together and as such we are one. 

"We can't have development in a crisis ridden environment. It's not for nothing that they say that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

Mr. Aduwaye continued: "It's ironical that the fowl that lays the golden egg  is being starved. You can't assess Gelegele by road. EDSOPADEC,  the state government, NDDC, the Ministry of Regional Development and the oil companies should respond to the cries of the people. It's the lack of development and makes the people in oil producing communities to be hostile. We intend to forge a united front so that we can change this ugly narrative."

Speaking in the same vein, Abumwere advised the oil producing communities to keep the peace and cooperate with the body for the sake of progress and development.Edo HOSTCOM Schedules Election For Saturday, December 13 in Benin City 

Recalled that the national president of HOSTCOM, High Chief Style Tàman had mandated the Edo State chapter of the association to conduct election into all the offices and inaugurate a new exco before the end of December this year.