A fresh controversy surrounding the location of the Ogidigben Export Processing Zone, EPZ now called the Delta Industrial Gas City is brewing, as the people of Kpokpo, one of the host communities of the $16 billion project have debunked insinuations that they are part of Ugborodo, insisting Kpokpo is an autonomous community in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State.
In an apparent response to a statement credited to Chairman of Ogidigben EPZ Interface Committee, Barr. Austin Oborogbeyi, wherein he claimed that Kpokpo is part of Madangho and as such do not have a separate Olare-Aja (community head) the people of Kpokpo through their present Olare-Aja, Prince George Kolo Fregene in a press statement, averred that Oborogbeyi’s comment is a misrepresentation of “facts and historical evidence on the true identity of Kpokpo”.
According to Prince George Kolo Fregene, Kpokpo whose historical existence dates back to 1916 when it was founded by late Pa. Prince Kolo Fregene, was the first place to be developed in the present day Escravos, Warri South-West Local Government Area.
While stressing that laws guiding Ugborodo, including barring of their indigenes from engaging in fishing during their festival had never affected Kpokpo people, Prince Fregene wondered why Barr. Oborogbeyi “who was allegedly imposed on Itsekiri host communities of the EPZ will feign ignorance on the modalities of NNPC awarding the bush clearing contract of the EPZ site on our land”.
Prince Fregene demanded to know the role of the Interface Committee Chairman if the interest of people of its host communities would not be taken into consideration in the award of contracts and employments in the EPZ project in-line with the Local Content Act.
They called for the immediate resignation of the Ogidigben Interface Committee Chairman and the incorporation of Kpokpo people in the Delta Gas Industrial City Project, stressing that it is the only recipe for peace and realization of the legacy project.
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