IJAW, ITSEKIRI SPAR OVER POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS

There could be fresh possible break down of law and order resulting to ethnic crisis between the Ijaws of Egbema Kingdom and the Itsekiri in Warri North local government area of Delta State over imbalance and marginalization of political appointments.

It is a case of lopsided appointments and marginalization of the Ijaws of Egbema kingdom in the council area by the Itsekiris, in connection of the provocative a unconstitutional exclusion of the Ijaws from the participation in the council and government of the state.

This was disclosed in protest letter addressed to the Senate President, signed by Chief Abel A. Ugedi, National Chairman of Egbema General Assembly, and ex-presidential aspirant, Chief Midwest Mukuru, National Secretary and mave available to Newsmen, decreid that since the creation of Warri North in 1991, the Ijaws of Egbema were completely neglected and marginalized in political appointments, and civil services despite the fact that the Ijaws were more in population as ninety percent of political appointments in the area fovoured only the Itsekiris to the detriment of the Ijaws of Egbema kingdom.

It also stated the negative action of former governor James Ibori, and the present administration of Dr. Uduaghan as completely breach and violation of the fundamental rights of the Ijaws of Egbema in the Warri North, insisting that if the imbalance and marginalization is not urgently and properly corrected , the Ijaws of Egbema may be force to react.

And that the federal character commission in the past wrote to the then council chairman, Hon. Mike Diden in a letter dated 14th June, 2005, directing him to redress the imbalance and marginalization of the Ijaws of Egbema within three weeks, but was ignored and aborted.

It therefore called on the Senate president to kindly prevail in correcting the deadly imbalance of the Ijaws of Egbema in warri North and bring to book those involved in the deliberate defiance of the mandatory provision of section 14 (3) and (4) of the 1999 constitution.

IJAW/ITSEKIRI FACE-OFF OVER POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS IN WARRI NORTH

There could be fresh possible break down of law and order resulting to ethnic crisis between the Ijaws of Egbema Kingdom and the Itsekiri in Warri North local government area of Delta State over imbalance and marginalization of political appointments.

It is a case of lopsided appointments and marginalization of the Ijaws of Egbema kingdom in the council area by the Itsekiris, in connection of the provocative a unconstitutional exclusion of the Ijaws from the participation in the council and government of the state.

This was disclosed in protest letter addressed to the Senate President, signed by Chief Abel A. Ugedi, National Chairman of Egbema General Assembly, and ex-presidential aspirant, Chief Midwest Mukuru, National Secretary and mave available to Newsmen, decreid that since the creation of Warri North in 1991, the Ijaws of Egbema were completely neglected and marginalized in political appointments, and civil services despite the fact that the Ijaws were more in population as ninety percent of political appointments in the area fovoured only the Itsekiris to the detriment of the Ijaws of Egbema kingdom.

It also stated the negative action of former governor James Ibori, and the present administration of Dr. Uduaghan as completely breach and violation of the fundamental rights of the Ijaws of Egbema in the Warri North, insisting that if the imbalance and marginalization is not urgently and properly corrected , the Ijaws of Egbema may be force to react.

And that the federal character commission in the past wrote to the then council chairman, Hon. Mike Diden in a letter dated 14th June, 2005, directing him to redress the imbalance and marginalization of the Ijaws of Egbema within three weeks, but was ignored and aborted.

It therefore called on the Senate president to kindly prevail in correcting the deadly imbalance of the Ijaws of Egbema in warri North and bring to book those involved in the deliberate defiance of the mandatory provision of section 14 (3) and (4) of the 1999 constitution.

TAKE ACTION ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, OIL COYS, GOVT TOLD

The leadership of youth groups in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State have appealed to the management of oil companies and government agencies to stop paying lip to the issue of environmental pollution.



President of Gbaramatu Youth Council, Comrade Sheriff Mulade made the appeal yesterday against the backdrop of face-off between some communities in the kingdom and management of Chevron Nigeria Limited over oil spillage.



It would be recalled that CNL and eight host and impacted communities in the kingdom are locked in conflict over oil spillage from the Otunana and Abiteye platforms of the oil company since August, 2008.



The possible causes of the spills are now a major subject of debate among both parties: while CNL attributed them to 3rd party intervention, Kokodiagbene and other communities insisted that they resulted from equipment failure.



However, Mulade yesterday insisted that CNL must “take proactive steps because various governments and companies have paid lip service to the issue of environmental pollution for so long. It has drastically degraded the ecosystem, reduced the soil quality, loss of organic matters, fishing rights, vegetation and economic impairment among others.”



He said it is imperative to note that the communities disagreement with Chevron over Utonana spill will not tear “us apart because we have a cordially relationship with Chevron.



He accused the company of outright neglect in spite of the cordial relationship, noting that its indigenes do not benefit from employment, contracts and other sundry benefits that should usually accrue to them as host.



Meanwhile, Mulade, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Monday, revealed that the Kokodiagbene and seven communities impacted by the oil spill have set up a 10-man non-exco to investigate the cause of the lingering issue.



He said the committee would carefully and thoroughly investigate to ascertain the root cause to end the lingering matter, adding that its report to be submitted to him in his capacity as General Secretary of Kokodiagbe, would determine the direction and further step to be taken by the communities.

LET THERE BE PEACE IN UGBORODO - HOPE HARRIMAN

WARRI-REAL Estate guru and frontline politician cum elder statesman, Chief Hope Harriman has called for support for the newly constituted Ugborodo Trust led by Mr. Thomas Ereyitomi even as he berated all those attacking Pa. J.O.S. Ayomike for co-initiating the peaceful reconciliation of the fueding parties in the oil -rich Ugborodo community.

Chief Harriman who is also from the Ugborodo community and the Sobaloju of Ife was the first Chairman of the Community Trust in the 60s has also joined Pa. J.O.S. Ayomike in asking for peace in the troubled community that has long been ravaged by internal strife.

He described as 'rascally and senseless the feeble attempt by some misguided miscreants in Ugborodo to cast aspersion on Pa. Ayomike who has developed himself in the annals of Nigerian History and the entire Itsekiri people to become a reference point just as he charge them to retrace their steps and to the path rectitude and emulate others to develop Ugborodo land.'

It would be recalled that the immidiate past Chairman of Warri South-West Council area of Delta State and a one time Chairman of the Ugborodo Trust, Mr. David Tonwe last Week, led some few Ugborodo indigenes to attack the person of Pa. Ayomike for initiating the peace settle that for once brought all the principal authorities and institutions together in harmony.

' MEND'S IROKO CAMP ATTACKED WRPC PIPELINE'

A militant group in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State have been identified as the mastermind of the Independence Anniversary morning attack on the System 2C pipeline of the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) in the area.



The group carried out the attack from a militant camp, identified as Iroko Camp around Gbaramatu Kingdom of the area just as our investigations revealed that the attack was motivated by financial gains rather than Niger Delta crisis.



Already, it was gathered that the leader of the group that carried out the attack (names withheld) was arrested on Friday afternoon and taken to Camp 5, where they are being interrogated by youth leaders opposed to the action.



Coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col. Rabe Abubakar, neither confirmed nor denied the report when our correspondent contacted him on Sunday afternoon. He said he could only comment on activities of the task force.



The attack on the strategic pipeline has crippled the operations of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), which relies on the facility for supply of crude oil from facilities of Chevron Nigeria Limited used in its operation.



The System 2C was ruptured around Egwa community in Chanomi Creeks of Warri South West LGA, barely eight months after the facility was re-commissioned in February, 2008.



The repair of the pipeline by Fenog Nigeria Limited set the Federal Government back by US$57-million (about N7-billion) even though an international company had earlier placed a tag of over US$102m for the same job.



It was first bombed by militants around the same area in February 2006 during the wave of attacks by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).



The repair process dragged on for two years because of security and communities’ disturbance, during which period the WRPC became comatose.



However, the facility was successfully repaired in February, paving the way for the resumption of operation at the refinery, which subsequently hit 100 per cent production capacity in August.



But System 2C was again blown up in the area last Wednesday by the militant group, which was allegedly working for some indigenous contractors.



A security operative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said its investigation revealed that the gang carried out the attack allegedly for an unnamed indigenous firm that expects to get contract from the repair of the facility.



“We believe that they did it absolutely for financial gains because they had no agitation or complaints either politically or with the company involved. So, the initial indication right now is that they are working for a contractor, most likely, an indigenous firm that stands to benefit from the repair job.



“From the above and some other revelations that I cannot tell you right now, those most likely to benefit are they who would provide security for the companies carrying out the repair, those who would provide houseboat, barges, and every other supply that is involved in the entire repair process,” our source added.



Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that the leader of the Camp 5 militant base in the area ordered the arrest of the perpetrators of the Wednesday’s attack: they were taken to the base where they are being detained in a caravan, it was learnt.

DELTA COMMUNITIES TO INVADE CHEVRON OIL PLATFORM

Angry indigenes of Kokodiagbene and others impacted by the August 17 crude oil spill from the Jacket 8D of Otunana and Abiteye flow stations of Chevron Nigeria Limited, have vowed to invade the facilities on Monday over refusal by the company to start compensation payment processes.


Already, a 7-day ultimatum given to the company by the impacted and host communities following a breakdown in negotiations elapsed yesterday morning.



Community sources said the aggrieved communities would invade the impacted areas with a team of surveyors and other experts as part of the demarcation exercise, allegedly being avoided by Chevron.



Community representatives told our correspondent on Sunday afternoon that they would carry out the exercise with or without the cooperation of the company.



It would be recalled that the spills from the two facilities have pitched the host communities against American oil firm: both sides disagreed over the cause of the spill.



However, CNL’s position was weakened by its swift repairs of the facilities, contrary to the best practice in the industry that required a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to ascertain its cause.



Consequently, Kokodiagbene, Jones Creek and other impacted communities insisted on carrying out the usual process of demarcation, mapping and other activities preparatory to compensation payment.



But CNL’s management, according to our sources, is only prepared to pay out ex-gratia money to the communities, even as it insists that the spills resulted from 3rd party intervention.



A source within the host communities told our correspondent yesterday, “We have concluded plans on the expiration of our ultimatum to carry out our own independent survey and demarcation on impacted areas, demarcation.



“We are going there tomorrow (Monday) with team of surveyors and members of Kokodiagbene and the eight impacted communities. After the exercise we shall go to the platform (Otunana),” our source added.



Our source, who craved anonymity, further revealed that the communities have shelved its planned siege and take over of the platform because of the intervention of youth leaders like Comrade Sheriff Mulade and other prominent Ijaw leaders.



“But we shall still go there after the exercise with the team of surveyors who will produce the survey map of the affected areas just to convince Chevron that we would not let the issue die like that,” our source added.