Gbaramatu Not The Only Ijaws That Fought For Development – NDLF

• Distances Ijaws, Gbaramatu from threats issued against FG, oil companies

• Indicts Sylva, Omo-Agege over silence on marginalization of Niger Delta on Marginal Oil Field allocation

A group under the aegis of the Niger Delta Ijaw Leaders Forum (NDLF), lead has reassured the Nigerian federal government and oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region of safe and secure operations.

In statement signed by Comrade Ebipade Fedeke, and made available to newsmen on Monday, the group assured that no oil company will shut down to please some criminal minded agitators in Gbaramatu Kingdom.

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Ebipade assured that companies in other part 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 from using Gbaramatu Kingdom to make careless statement capable of disrupting peace in the region.

Ebipade stated 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.

He lamented that that the minister of state for Petroleum, Chief Timpre Sylva and Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Oma-agege have both remained silent to this threat, suggesting that they may have stakes with the misguided fellows because of their 2023 ambitions and support from Ex Militants.

The statement reads in full;
“Count the Ijaw people and Gbaramatu Kingdom out of any criminal agitations. The kingdom has maintained a towering reputation beyond ill intention ventures 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 cabal in the Gbaramatu Kingdom has degenerated into criminal threats to renew hostilities in the region.”

“They succeeded 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 Field 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 minimal of 70% to people from oil producing area like Gbaramatu Kingdom.

“It is unpalatable to read statement coming from a teleguided 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.

“It is condemnable to hide under Ex-militants, or Niger Delta and agitators threaten 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.

“It is pertinent to state that The Federal government, oil companies should not be intimidated by any group who seek attention to push selfish Demand.

“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 appeals to Mr President to consider Ijaw from Delta State for the Amnesty Coordinator position who will focus on building peace in the region.”