The Ijaw Youth Council, Western Zone, has advised Chief Rita-Lori Ogbebor, an Itsekiri Chief, to call for the revocation of the N134 billion surveillance contract awarded to the Olu of Itsekiri, Atuwatse III.
The advise followed a report attributed to Ogbebor, calling for the cancellation of a pipeline surveillance contract awarded to former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.
In a statement signed by Comrade Doubra Okotete – Chairman, Omaghomi Olu-Derimon – Secretary and and Lugard Izoukumor – Information Officer, the IYC labeled the report as false and filled with ulterior motives.
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It said Ogbebor only spoke for herself and not for anybody in the Niger Delta.
The statement read in part;
“Contrary to the wrong impression created by Chief Rita-Lori, there is no anarchy that would arise from the award of surveillance contract to Tompolo instead it would bring stability to the Niger Delta region and increase Nigeria’s oil production.
“We make bold to say that Chief Ogbebor lives in Lagos and Abuja, hence she is not aware of the current state of affairs in the region.
“Furthermore, if Chief Rita-Lori is asking for Tompolo’s contract to be revoked, what about the one awarded to her Traditional Ruler, the Olu of Warri?
“Also, she did not ask for the revocation of the contract when it was being executed by the late Capt. Hosa.
“This clearly explains her ulterior motive which is her age-long hatred for her Ijaw and Urhobo neighbours. She is on record to have displayed pathological hatred against people from neighbouring ethic groups.
“If Chief Rita-Lori is honest, let her call for the revocation of the surveillance contract awarded to the Olu of Warri in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.
“We wish to put it on record for the benefit of Chief Rita-Lori and those opposing Tompolo’s surveillance contract that safeguarding the Niger Delta environment and sustaining peace in the region cannot be achieved on the streets of Asokoro in Abuja.
“The Ijaw people will not call for the revocation of the contract awarded to the Olu of Warri. It is not our style of activism and way of life, rather we will celebrate and commend it, whereby pleading for an holistic engagement from the Olu because we believe sustainable community development must be a bottom to top approach where critical stakeholders such as Tompolo, the Olu of Warri and others must be engaged, to stem economic development.
“Therefore, Chief Rita-Lori Ogbebor and others that are claiming leadership in the Niger Delta, ought to proffer ideas and closely work with Tompolo on how everyone can win rather than these charade, narcissistic and divisive comments.
“Going by her outbursts, we make bold to say that; Chief Rita-Lori Ogbebor and her camaraderies of hate and jealousy are not aggrieved with the contract, they are just scared of Tompolo’s capacity and continuous meteoric rise to win where others have failed.
“Reason being that if the pendulum had swung to their favors, they won’t be crying foul play.
“Chief. Rita-Lori should also be aware that there are implications to the anarchy she is inviting for the instability of the Niger Delta because of the N4.5bn pipeline contract awarded to Tompolo.
“This is a threat to national security and security agencies must swing into action. The contract would definitely usher in peace and security instead of anarchy that Chief Rita-Lori is predicting.
“Finally, we advise Chief Mrs. Rita-Lori, to talk of the security challenges in the North and how to curb them, since she lives in the north, rather than predicting doom for the Niger Delta that is already in peace with Tompolo and other well-meaning Niger Delta stakeholders including her Itsekiri National Youth Council, playing a pivotal role through what we saw at Oporoza.
“Once again, Chief Rita-Lori, we know you don’t speak for anybody in the Niger Delta, but yourself alone; hence, the public should disregard her.”
