By Amos Odhe
The Urhobo Host Communities Rebirth Initiative (UHCRI) has faulted allegation made against Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Executive Vice President, Upstream of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL.
A group had accused Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan of allegedly planning to increase of the scope of the pipeline surveillance contract awarded Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, a company allegedly linked to the Olu of Warri.
But, the Urhobo Host Communities Rebirth Initiative (UHCRI), in a press release on Friday, said the NNPCL Executive Vice President Upstream “cannot single-handedly increase scope of contract in favour of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited.”
The press release signed by Omiregwa Odiri S. Umukoro, general secretary, Urhobo Host Communities Rebirth Initiative (UHCRI), said, “It is common knowledge to the entire country that NNPCL had awarded the pipeline surveillance contract to Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited long before Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan assumed office as Executive Vice President, Upstream of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL”
The group warned that “mischief-makers are worried and envious of the rising profile of Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan being the first female from Delta State, Niger Delta and Nigeria to become the Executive Vice President, Upstream of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL.
“The allegation that Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan was favouring Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited for the pipeline surveillance contract is frivolous, unsubstantiated and indeed laughable.
“We want to remind these elements that the NNPCL is a reputable organization with a board of directors and management overseeing and taking decisions for NNPCL, which makes it extremely difficult for Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan to single-handedly increase the scope of job for Pipelines Infrastructures Nigeria Limited”
According to the group, “We, the Delta State people are proud of our own, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan and her appointment as Executive Vice President Upstream in NNPCL as well-deserved and merited. Her diligence, transparency, competence and hard work over the years earned her the present office she occupy. Nobody should envy and blackmail Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan. It will not be tolerated”
They appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “for finding a distinguished and patriotic Nigerian, a Niger Delta woman, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan worthy for the appointment as Vice President Upstream, NNPCL.
“We urge Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan to remain focused, and continue doing her good works in NNPCL and service to Nigeria. We will not accept any mischievous plots to blackmail her for what she knows nothing about,” they said.