Joint Press Conference: Atiku’s Aide, Peresine Hails Gbaramutu, Itsekiri Nation

-Advises FG To Stop Marginalizing Niger Delta

By Wilson Macaulay
The National Coordinator, Atiku Abubakar Media Vanguard, AAMV, Hon. Peresine Watchman, has poured encomiums on Gbaramatu Kingdom and the Movement for the Development of Itsekiri Oil & Gas Producing Communities, MDIOGPC, in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State for jointly carrying out a press conference against the backdrop of the dubious activities of the oil companies operating in the area, and the Federal Government’s continued marginalization.of the region.

In a press statement personally signed by the Niger Delta born playwright, Peresine commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his Deputy Deacon Kingsley Otuaro on the proactive measures they have taken to avert the impending economic crisis in the oil rich Delta State, as well as sustenance of peace in all parts of Delta State, advising that the federal government should take urgent and genuine steps to address the issue raised in the press conference.

The statement reads: “I was very much happy to see the Ijaws in Gbaramutu Kingdom and the Itsekiri ethinic group coming together to hold a press conference against the backdrop of the illicit activities of the oil companies operating in the coastal communities in Delta State, and of course the marginalization by the federal government. I commend them and declare my total support for their demands.

“I am also very much delighted that the Urhobo nation also made a press statement in line with Gbaramutu Kingdom and the Itsekiris (MDIOGPC), which is a welcome development because oil producing communities in Niger Delta and indeed the entire Niger Delta communities are being faced with the challanges of underdevelopment, youth unemployment, heavy metal pollution, oppression and marginalization by the multinational oil companies and federal government.

“I urge other Niger Delta ethnic groups to stop fighting one another, but they should unite to fight against their oppressor- the Federal Government, which takes their wealth and gives them poverty and also pollutes their environment.

“Why would the federal government abandon the $16billion Export Processing Zone, EPZ (Gas Revolution Industrial Park, GRIP) in Delta State, and proceeded with the piping of the 614 km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas from the Niger Delta estimated at $2.8billion if the federal government does not have notorious motives against the Niger Delta?

“Why are the coastal communities in the oil rich Niger Delta still drinking water from the hazardously polluted water in the rivers where we also defecate?

“Why does the coastal communities in the oil rich Niger Delta not have road networks and electricity, but still wallow in pains and darkness?

“Why has the Deep-Sea Port in Warri – Delta State, Sea-Port in Onne in Rivers State and Calabar Sea-Port in Cross River State not been resuscitated to boost the economy and development of Niger Delta?

“Why does the owners of the crude oil not have oil blocs but the oil blocs are being owned and controlled by non-Niger Deltans?

“Why mining of gold in other parts of Nigeria is a legitimate business but bunkery business by Niger Deltans on their own crude oil is tagged by the federal government as illegal?

“Why is the federal government manipulating the process of the bidding of 57 Marginal Fields against the oil and gas producing Gbaramutu Kingdom and Itsekiri communities to favour non-indigenes?

“Why has the federal government not carried out investigations on millions of dead and rotten fishes that surfaced on the waterways and fish-traps in Gbaramutu Kingdom and Itsekiri coastal Communities on January 26, 2020?

“Why are there so many loopdsided political appointments in this Buhari-led Federal Government to the detriment of Niger Delta?

“Why has the federal government not implemented the 16-Point Demand of the Delta Region since 2016?

“My answer to the above questions is that all these policies and MoU somersault are being done to the detriment of Niger Delta, because the Nigerian Government is not willing to develop the Niger Delta region, and Niger Delta ethnic groups are too divided for the federal government to take the development of Niger Delta region seriously.

“Therefore, the solution to the bane of the development in the Niger Delta region is for the different political parties and ethnic groups to take aside political and ethnic differences, and unite to fight the federal government and its agents of darkness against resource control and the development of Niger Delta.

“Niger Deltans should stop the non-challant attitude and fight an intellectual war against the federal government and multinational oil companies which have created various forms of marginalization, criminal neglect of myriads of environmental hazards.

“I commend the Governor of Delta State Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and His Deputy, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, for taking proactive steps to avert this joint ultimatum given by Gbaramutu Kingdom and the Itsekiris (MDIOGPC) to carry out fresh crisis in the oil and gas industry in Delta State.

“I am also using this medium to advise whoever that is in control/charge of President Buhari-led federal government to take genuine and urgent steps to dialogue with Gbaramutu Kingdom and other ethnic groups in the Niger Delta region, review anti-Niger Delta policies and laws, implement developmental policies, as well as Niger Delta Master Plan to restore total peace.”