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.”
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