Residents of Exxon Mobil Housing Estate and the airstrip at Eket woke up Monday morning to find two mock coffins at their gates.
The coffins with fresh palm fronds were reportedly dumped by a group, the Afigh Iwaad Ekid, as warning signal to register its grievance over the alleged refusal of the oil giant to relocate to Akwa Ibom State despite presidential order.
The protesters, drawn from core oil producing communities of Onna, Eket and Ibeno local governments of the state defied the early morning downpour and came in their hundreds to announce their grievances.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, leader of the group, Mr. Joe Etukudo, said “the time has come for the Exxon Mobil to relocate to Akwa Ibom State in keeping with the presidential directive”.
“Today is just a warning protest done in a very civilized manner, we will eventually shoot down Exxon Mobil operations both onshore and offshore if after 14 days the company does not take us seriously,” Etukudo further warned.
He expressed disappointment that the oil giant has maintained deaf ears to all entreaties and calls from well-meaning individuals and groups to relocate to the state.
According to him the company has maintained selective approach “even in award of contracts and employment against members of the core oil producing communities and Akwa Ibom State indigenes in general.”
Efforts to get the reactions of the General Manager, Media and Publicity of the company, Mr. Ogechuckwu Udeagha, proved abortive as at press time.
