Niger Delta Ijaw Leaders Forum, led by Comrade Ebipade Fedeke, has assured President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government and oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region of safe and secured operations
In statement released to news men on Monday in Warri Delta state, the leader of the group assured that no oil company will shut down to please some criminal minded agitators in Gbaramatu kingdom, Warri south-west local government area of the state.
Ebipade assured that companies in other parts of the Niger Delta region should not be distracted by those expressing their selfish needs under the disguise of the most respected Ijaw traditional kingdom in Delta state.
He strongly warned faceless groups against using Gbaramatu kingdom to make careless statements capable of disrupting peace in the region.
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His statement reads: “Count the Ijaw people of Gbaramatu kingdom out of any criminal agitations, the kingdom has maintained a towering reputation beyond ill-intentioned venture of sabotaging government efforts and scare away investors from their land.”
An independent investigation has revealed that the struggle to ensure that President Buhari appoints coordinator for the presidential amnesty programme from among some cabals in the Gbaramatu Kingdom has degenerated into criminal threats to renew hostilities in the region.
Ebipade further added that Gbaramatu kingdom is not the only Ijaw people who fought for the development of Ijaw land and Niger Delta at large, therefore the kingdom cannot claim all appointments and opportunities to Ijaw.
“They succeed in threatening and pressuring Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state to impose their sons and daughters into the Delta State Oil Producing area Development Commission, DESOPADEC.
“Now the conspirators are hiding under the exclusion of Gbaramatu indigenes from the recently announced 52 marginal oil fields allocated to interested Nigerians without considering people from oil bearing communities which we strongly condemn and call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately look into and give minimum of 70% to people from oil producing areas like Gbaramatu kingdom.
“It is unpalatable to read statements coming from tele guided spokesperson of Gbaramatu kingdom, dragging the kingdom into disrepute by stating an intention to inflict pains, injury, damage or other hostile actions on oil companies and the country’s economy.”
He lamented that that the minister of state for Petroleum, Chief Timpre Sylva and Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege have remained silent to this threat, suggesting that they have stake with the misguided fellows because of their 2023 ambitions and support from Ex-militants.
It is condemnable to hide under Ex-militants, or Niger Delta and agitators.
Threatening hostilities on the region and the federal government just to get attention with the president to push forward a selfish demand for appointment of their candidate to coordinate the Amnesty Programme is condemnable.
It is pertinent to state that the federal government and oil companies should not be intimidated by any group seeking attention to push selfish demands.
For the fact that the federal government appointment was not extended to your community or projected candidate should not bring down the heavens or the economy should be dragged to the mud.
It is the prerogative of the president to appoint who can give or produce a better result to reposition the region for robust economic activities and appealed to Mr. President to consider Ijaw from Delta state for the Amnesty Coordinator position who will focus on building peace in the region.
