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| Militancy disrupts Nigeria's crude supplies to the global oil market. |
A prominent Netherland
based environmental rights activist, Mr Sunny Ofehe, on Thursday, said there
was no time militancy benefited or better the lots of the oil-rich Niger Delta
people, saying that only a few elements use such means to enrich themselves at
the detriment of the entire region.
The
Punch report continues:
Ofehe,
in a statement mailed to our correspondent from his base, noted that the
renewed militancy in the region was unnecessary as the resultant effect through
environmental degradation would hurt even unborn children.
The
activist, who was kidnapped along five other Dutch nationals including this
reporter in 2013 along Dodo Rivers in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa
State, posited that dialogue was the only means to bring lasting peace and
development to the region.
According
to him, militancy has always represented the interest of a few element in the
region who he said seek government recognition through militancy to the detriment
of the core problems of the region.
He
opined that aggrieved persons from the region rise to prominence by cradling on
the age-long underdevelopment of the region with feeling for the ordinary
suffering people of the region who die in abject poverty.
The
statement read, “This act of militancy represents the interest of a very few
elements whose identities are still unknown. All that the people of the region
want is a government that can deliver on policies that will eradicate poverty
and provide daily necessities for everyone.
“What
I am skeptic about is that the programme will not last forever as you know,
what happens if the program ends and the stipend to the youths is stopped?”
Ofehe,
who hails from Delta State, stressed that the utmost need of the region was
massive infrastructural development and policies that would create jobs for the
youths.
He
added that resorting to violent agitation was unnecessary as event of the past
only brought more sorrow, pains and tribulation to already sufferings of the
people.
Ofehe
urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to put machinery in place
to fast-track the development of the region, but pointed out that “we lost a
great opportunity to address the problems that plagued the Niger Delta region”
under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Ex-Militants Give Oil Firms 14-Day
Eviction Notice Over MoU
The
Punch reports that a group of former Niger Delta militants have issued a 14-day
ultimatum to oil companies operating in Ekpeyeland to leave the area or face
massive vandalization of their assets.
The
ex-agitators known as Ekpeye Liberation Group, who claimed to be behind the
attack on Well 5 in Akara Olu, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers
State, explained that the eviction notice was due to the oil companies’ refusal
to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Ekpeye communities.
They
expressed dissatisfaction over the alleged nonchalant attitude by the oil firms
to the killings and kidnapping in the Ekpeyeland.
A
statement on Thursday signed by the spokesman of the group, Obodo Obodo,
identified the oil firms as Nigerian Agip Oil Company, Shell Petroleum
Development Company, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas and Niger Delta Petroleum
Resources.
It
added that though Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited had signed
one MoU with the communities, the agreement had been violated with impunity.
“The
Ekpeye Liberation Group, a forum of ex-militants and freedom agitators from the
Ekpeye Ethnic Nationality in Rivers State (Part of the Niger Delta), is utterly
disappointed with the conduct of the oil multinational companies operating in
the area.
“In
the light of their nonchalant, including lukewarm attitude to the massive
killings and kidnappings of our people in recent times, the Ekpeye Liberation
Group has been forced to issue a notice of eviction to all oil companies
operating in Ekpeye territory and its waters.
“They
(oil companies) are required to pack out of Ekpeyeland within 14 days, from
Thursday 16th of June or face massive vandalization of their assets. A
stitch in time saves nine,” the group said.
Explaining that their attack on oil facilities will further affect the nation’s already limping economy, the ex-fighters warned the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to give the people of Ekpeye their due recognition.
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