The
highly publicized visit of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo
to the Niger Delta region has enjoyed a fair success with no concrete
agreement reached so far.
Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and VP Yemi Osinbajo
It was a hectic one-day visit to Delta State for Vice President,
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, as he witnessed the explosive nature of the region,
yesterday, with the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups disagreeing on the
ownership of the site of the Nigerian Maritime University, NMU,
Okerenkoko, whose take-off is a major demand by the Ijaw of Gbaramatu
Kingdom.
Prof. Osinbajo also found himself in another tight spot when
monarchs, who waited for several hours for his arrival at the Petroleum
Training Institute, PTI, Conference Hall, Effurun, got tired and angrily
stormed out of the venue.
The appearance of the Vice President, who made an emergency landing
at about 5p.m. with his chief host, the governor of Delta State,
Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, moments after they staged a walk out, did not
persuade some of the monarchs from returning, but security operatives
locked the entrance, stopping their drivers from leaving the premises.
Some reluctantly returned in the circumstance.
Osinbajo was accompanied on the visit by the Minister of State for
Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty
Programme, PAP and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta
Matters, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.) and others.
Governor Okowa led the state delegation, which included his deputy,
Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, while the co-chairman of the Pan Niger Delta
Forum, PANDEF, Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, HRM Alfred Diete-Spiff, led the
former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Brodrick Bozimo, Pastor
Power Aginighan and HRH Anabs Sara Igbe to the event.
At the troubled Gbaramatu Kingdom, in Warri South-West Local
Government Area, the people complained that they have become more
endangered and estranged by the current Nigerian state, calling on the
Federal Government to reconcile them back to the national union.
The Vice President, who touched down at Oporoza onboard a Nigerian
Navy 231 helicopter, at about 1209hrs, first held closed door talks with
the Pere (King) of Gbaramatu, HRM Oboro Gbaraun II, Aketekpe, Agadagba
and his Council of Chiefs as well as host governor, Ifeanyi Okowa,
among other stakeholders before an open and broader open air
interaction.
Let Maritime varsity take-off
Gbaramatu Chief Godspower Gbenekama, spokesman of Gbaramatu, who
presented the kingdom’s position, told Osinbajo that they expected his
visit would represent a game-changer capable of building genuine
confidence in the people and Niger Delta at large.
He said: “Coming at a time of national economic recession and
when the Niger Delta, especially Gbaramatu, has become more endangered
and feeling estranged from the Nigerian nation, we believe this visit
will truly build confidence in the people of Gbaramatu and Niger Delta
on Federal Government’s commitment beyond hitherto frustrating
rhetorics, not just in developing but according dignity and pride of
place to the oil-rich region.
“Gbaramatu Kingdom is tall and rich in national oil
infrastructure that enriches the nation but lamentably lacking in
infrastructure that benefits the people.
Against the foregoing pitiable background, we herein raise
issues of immediate concern, hoping the Federal Government will leverage
on same to reconcile Gbaramatu, the Ijaw nation and Niger Delta to the
Nigerian nation.”
Among pertinent issues, Gbenekama noted: “Gbaramatu’s entire
landscape wallows in utter government neglect. It was against this
backdrop that the immediate past administration established the Maritime
University at Okerenkoko, the only Federal Government initiative that
rekindled hope of meaningfully engaging restive youths and prospect of
endearing the people to the Nigerian project.
“Sadly, no sooner than the President Muhammadu Buhari
administration was inaugurated, academic activities slated for
commencement September 2015 were suspended over varied interests just as
construction works at the permanent site were halted due to
discontinued funding.
“A visit to Kurutie, the take-off site would reveal a campus
that can compete in infrastructure with similar institutions in the
world.
It is our appeal that you use your good offices to remove all
restraints and ensure commencement, soonest, of academic activities in
the university to the benefit of all Nigerians.”
Militarization
On the militarization of Gbaramatu, Gbenekama told Osinbajo: “Under
the guise of searching for oil facility vandals, oil thieves and other
criminals, the Nigerian military has become an army of occupation,
committing serial invasions on Gbaramatu Kingdom. The consequences have
been loss of several lives and properties and huge humanitarian crisis.
We want dialogue
“Continued military occupation, invasions and unwarranted
harassments give a lie to Federal Government’s commitment to the
dialogue option.
The entire Niger Delta region has embraced dialogue as symbolized
by mandates for dialogue given to the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF)
which could pan out a way where the people would be involved in
protecting the oil resources that also benefit them.
“Gbaramatu is not at war with the Federal Government. It is,
therefore, our appeal and hope that your visit today will pave way for
demilitarization of the area for genuine and result-oriented dialogue.
Dialogue under military occupation and harassments is dialogue in
chains.”
The people further called for actualisation of the EPZ project,
fiscal federalism as enduring solution to national agitation, adding
that “We feel the entire Niger Delta shares our commitment to
dialogue. The Federal Government should deepen its engagement processes
in the Niger Delta and usher in enduring peace and reconciliation of
Gbaramatu Kingdom and the Niger Delta to the Nigerian nation.”
Source: Vanguard
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