Agbeyi Gets Olu of Warri’s Blessing as Chairman of OML 150 Consultative Forum

…forum to compensate Warri Chief and others whose properties were destroyed on June 10

Chairman of the OML 150 Consultative Forum aka Conoil Forum, Dr. Monday Agbeyi has been reaffirmed as the substantive chairman of the Forum till 2026 when the four-year tenure of his administration will expire.

This reaffirmation was made by Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the Olu of Warri on Monday, June 23, 2024 at his Palace in Warri.

Speaking at the meeting, Ogiame Atuwatse III, commended the Comr. Agbeyi-led leadership of the Forum, charging him to replicate same commitment towards the management of the Conoil PIA Trust which also has Monday Agbeyi as Chairman when it comes on stream. 

He said, “you have to ensure that the 3% from the settlor which is accruable to host communities is well applied towards their development.”

Continuing, the Warri Monarch also advised the forum to raise capable successors who will build on their successes at the expiration of their tenure in 2026.

The monarch who had frowned at the destruction of properties of some stakeholders of the Forum tasked the Monday Agbeyi-led Forum with bringing all aggrieved parties to a roundtable and ensuring adequate compensation for their damaged properties. He also warned against any untoward action that could trouble the peace and development in his kingdom.

You would recall that Warri Sentinel had reported the destruction of properties belonging to Chief Billy Besigiwa and another stakeholder of the forum which occurred on Monday June 10, 2024. 

According to our investigation, the protest at Obodo Flow-station and the follow up destruction of Chief Besigiwa’s properties were connected to activities at the Obodo Flowstation in Ubiro near Aja Osolo, the community of Chief Billy Besigiwa, who from all indications is allegedly claiming sole host community-ship of the flow-station. Whereas there are seven communities (including Aja-Osolo) recognized by Conoil as host to the oil facility.

This reporter gathered that there are indications Consolidated Oil alias Conoil is set to resume oil mining activities at the flowstation sometime in July this year.

In his speech, Comr. Monday Agbeyi commended the Olu of Warri for engaging progressive partners at home and abroad in bringing prosperity and development to Warri Kingdom, even as he promised not to betray the trust reposed in him by Ogiame Atuwatse III and the communities of the forum. He promised to complement the Olu’s developmental efforts in the oil-bearing communities.

The stakeholders’ meeting had in attendance hundreds of elders, leaders, women, youths drawn from the seven Warri South communities which make up the OML 150 Consultative Forum viz; Ifiekporo, Uwaekeno, Omadino, Ewekwara (Orugbo), Ajaosolo, Obodo and Jaluwa-Efueye.