Francis Tayor
Yenagoa ____ The aggrieved coalition of Niger Delta Freedom Fighters, has insisted that the petition earlier written to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, to terminate the pipeline security surveillance contract job awarded to Pipeline lnfrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) belonging to the Olu of ltsekiri, HRM. Shola Emiko over alleged breach of contract agreements, poor performance, marginalization of host community youths/stakeholders in terms of employment, persistent rampant illegal oil bunkering activities secretly ongoing, sponsoring of tribal conflicts, forceful land grabbing and renaming of ljaw communities, territorial claims over ljaw lands among others remains valid, saying they have not retracted their petition neither renders public apology as claimed by some media reports circulating on the internet.
This was disclosed on Wednesday in Yenagoa by the leader of the aggrieved ex-agitators of the Niger Delta, Seiyifa Gbedeke, popularly known as Don (Gen) Cairo, stressing that the said retraction report was not coming from them rather it is a false (pseudo) publication sponsored by unscrupulous elements impersonating the group in order to mislead government and the general public.
The group re-echoed their call on NNPCL and federal government to do the needful by immediately revoking the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to PINL in order to prevent renewed crisis in the Niger Delta region that will be disastrous to the economy of the nation.
Don general Cairo urged the general public to disregard the retraction report circulating online as false, insisting that termination of the PINL contract is for the best interest of the federal government and to save Nigeria dwindling economy from illegal oil bunkers secretly operating under the Olu of ltsekiri PINL company jurisdiction in the Niger Delta.
According to the petition letter earlier written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, read below;
The President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria,
His Excellency,
Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR).
Presidential Villa Aso Rock.
Your Excellency Sir,
COMPLAINT/PETITION NOTICE TO QUIT IJAW TERRITORIES IN THE NIGER DELTA
We, the undersigned group, the Aggrieved Freedom Fighters Forum (AFFF), respectfully write to you concerning the excesses and lack of capacity demonstrated by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), a private company allegedly owned and managed by the monarch of the Itsekiri Kingdom, His Majesty Olu Shola Emiko.
Sir, the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to PINL through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) covers approximately 80% of Ijaw territories across the Niger Delta.
As already aggrieved stakeholders in the region, we express our deep dissatisfaction with the manner in which this contract is being executed.
Our petition, complaint, and notice to quit are based on the following reasons:
1. Marginalization of Host Community Youths:
The Itsekiri monarch company (PINL) has consistently failed to employ youths from the host Ijaw Communities, who are the rightful stakeholders and custodians of the land.
2. Rampant Bunkering Activities:
Major crude oil theft and illegal bunkering are being carried out unchecked across the pipelines under the surveillance of PINL.
3. Sponsoring Tribal Conflict:
Funds from the NNPCL contract are reportedly being used to incite ethnic tensions and sponsor conflict. A notable example is the recent arrest of a British national, found in possession of 50 AK-47 rifles, who is known to be a close associate of the Itsekiri monarch.
4. Forceful Renaming of Ijaw Communities:
PINL, through its influence and funding, is allegedly involved in the forceful renaming of historically Ijaw towns and villages.
Examples include:
Okenrenkoko renamed as Okenrenghigho,
Oporoza renamed as Opuraza,
Azama renamed as Azatiton.
These examples represent only a fraction of such actions that disrespect and distort Ijaw heritage and identity.
5. Territorial Claims over Ijaw and Urhobo Lands:
The Itsekiri monarch is allegedly laying claim to vast areas historically and culturally belonging to both the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in Delta State.
Conclusion:
These disturbing developments indicate a clear incapacity and misuse of authority by the Itsekiri monarch in handling contracts within Ijaw territories. We view this as a deliberate provocation and an attempt to subjugate indigenous communities.
We therefore call on your esteemed office to immediately revoke the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to PINL in order to prevent the eruption of a fresh crisis in the Niger Delta, one which could have serious national implications.
Thank you for your attention.
Yours sincerely,
Seiyifa Gbedeke, aka Don (Gen.) Cairo, Leader Aggrieved Freedom Fighters Forum of Niger Delta.
No comments:
Post a Comment