Obaseki’s closure of Obu mine site faulted

Some political and business leaders in Edo state have faulted the shutdown of Obu mine site at Okpella community in Etsako East local government by the state government, describing it as an act of impunity and disobedience to court order.

Governor Godwin Obaseki on Wednesday led security agencies and other government officials to seal Obu mine site where they arrested officials of BUA International Limited for ‘violating a stop work order by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

Reacting to the development, the state chairman of Conference of Registered Political Parties (CRPP), Samson Isibor, said the governor acted against court order.

“Competent court order supersedes the mere directive by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi on stop work order on BUA cement in the state. Government should respect the law of the land,” he said.

While calling on the governor to maintain absolute neutrality on the matter, he advised BUA to institute a legal action against the state government and security operatives who invaded the company premises and enforced the federal government directive.

On his part, the Edo/Delta chairman of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Unuigboje Alofoje, said the association was pained by the development as the two giants involved in the disputed mine site were members of the association.

Alofoje said the matter could be settled amicably on the platform of the association.