Urhobo militants, under the aegis of Urhobo Gbagbako, explained that the
reason they blew up oil facilities in Ihwrenen and Ejophe communities
in Ughelli North and Ughelli South Local Government Areas, Delta
State, was because of 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.”
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.”
