The youths of Ayama Ekede in Andoni Local Government protested on Tuesday at the premises of Green Energy International Ltd and Lekoil in Port-Harcourt, alleging excesses by the companies and two officials.
The protesting youths carrying placards marched and chanted to the gate of the two companies on Odili Close off Birabi Street, GRA.
Some of the placards read “Ekede Youths Say Gad Must Go with his Confusion, Green Energy You Fail all your Promise, Mrs Amakiri Must Go. She Conspired with Gad to Form Illegal Youth that Lead to the Destruction of Ayama Ekede Town Hall and We Are Tired of Unemployment. Enough is Enough” among others.
Addressing a representative of the companies, the Youth President of Ayama Ekede Youth Congress who also represents Ayama Ekede Communities as well as Ugama Ekede Communities, Comrade Awaji Moroinwon Ete Miller, alleged that there were excesses by Chief Gad Harry and Mrs Amakiri Ibioku, who are two top officials of the companies.
He alleged that the company officials were bringing confusion to the community giving support to a rival youth group.
Comrade Ete Miller accused Mrs Ibioku, who is Community Relations Manager of encouraging youths in the community to form a rival youth body and caused confusion.
He said that they wrote series of letters to Green Energy Company warning them not to pay money to the rival youth body but alleged the two officials refused and had paid money meant for the registered youth group to the rival youth group.
He said that the act led to destruction of their Town hall.
The Youth President also alleged that Chief Harry who is Chairman of Board of Trustees in Green Energy International Ltd and Lekoil did not give proper representation to people of the community as Chairman of the Cluster Board for ten years, alleging that communities were shortchanged over their benefits.
He also complained of lack of employment for youths adding that security contracts were not given to people of the community and also said that the registered youth group should be recognized.
The youth president further said in an interview that two prominent Chiefs who were removed from a surveillance contract be reinstated.
Also speaking, another youth, Samuel Naaman Wilcox, said the companies had failed for over four years to honour their part of a bargain to hold roundtable meeting with the youths, saying that they would not tolerate it longer.
Earlier, the representative of the companies, Mr Enyinyan Goodluck, an Assistant to the Community Relations Manager said they had right to protest even though the companies were not informed about the protest.
He however asked the youths to appoint representatives for a meeting saying that he would inform his boss about the development.
The company officials were not around to comment on the allegations.
