said that their decision to blow up oil facilities in Ihwrenen and
Ejophe communities in Ughelli North and Ughelli South Local Government
Areas, Delta State, was informed by what they described as
marginalization and neglect of Urhobo nation by the outgoing
administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The group, in a statement by its National Chairman, Otega Obire, said:
"The Urhobo nation, as the fifth largest ethnic group in the country,
has long been marginalized in the presidential amnesty programme and
pipeline surveillance jobs and contracts. Even the Delta Steel
Company, DSC, Aladja, that is supposed to be the only federal project
in Urhoboland, has been grounded for years."
Warning that the Urhobo hospitality, simplicity and maturity exhibited
to ensure the smooth functioning of government at all levels, should
not be mistaken for cowardice, the group in the statement, told the
incoming government to create a level playing ground for bidding and
allocation of contracts in the oil pipeline surveillance with
particular reference to the "Urhobos who are the major host
communities of oil facilities and gas plants in line with the Local
Content Act."
Calling for the speedy resuscitation of DSC to reduce unemployment and
restiveness in their domain, and by extension promote the economic
fortunes of the people, the militants, said: "We accepted change
before the elections because we strongly believed in the capacity of
the president-elect, General Muhamadu Buhari, to correct the wrongs
done to us by the outgoing administration.
"We have resolved to prevail and calm all aggrieved Urhobo youths for
a ceasefire after due consultation and meetings with our channels of
communication with the incoming government, but it has to be quick in
order to avoid a return to the dark days of militancy."
--Vanguard
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