INDIGENES of Odioma community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, on Tuesday stormed the office of the Chairman of the council, Mr Bina Bello, to protest alleged plans to relocate the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company earmarked for their community.
The protesters, including the youths, women and elders, displayed placards with inscriptions such as “Desperate Politicians Leave Brass Fertilizer Company alone,” “Odioma community is peaceful,” “Save Our Soul Bayelsa State Governor,” “Brass People Wants LNG and Fertilizer Company,” “Brass Fertilizer Company has come to stay in Odioma.” Chairman of Odioma Community Development Council, CDC, Mr. Philemon Dickson, who led the protest said: “We are peace loving people of Odioma community. Our people are very angry and annoyed and we have come with a save our soul message to you to send to the governor of Bayelsa State. Our grievance is this, Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company is sited in Odioma land, and Brass LNG is sited on Brass Island as well.
Now, the two companies are to exist side by side and bring development to Bayelsa State. It has come to our knowledge that our oppressors have arisen again to divert the Brass Fertilizer Company to the proposed LNG site and then move LNG to another state of the federation. This is unacceptable.” Responding, Chairman of Brass Local Government Area, Mr. Bina Bello who commended the community for their peaceful protest, said the fertilizer company would not be relocated, assuring them that the state government would do all within its powers to protect the interest of the community.
