This came as ethnic nationalities in Delta South senatorial district, comprising Ijaw, Isoko and Iteskiri, alongside Urhobo (Delta Central), have agreed to set up a mediation committee on inter-ethnic conflicts/crises among ethnic groups in the state.
The Ijaw, speaking through one of their leaders, Chief Bello Oboko, in a statement in Warri, appealed to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to help protect the re-election credentials of President Jonathan who envisioned the Export Processing Zone, EPZ, project to provide millions of jobs and advance the nation’s economy, by sorting out all grey matters that could lead to ethnic crisis.
He said: “It may not be complimentary to President Jonathan’s re-election bid for a second term to postpone the groundbreaking of the Escravos EPZ project. Worse still, the postponement is based on alleged consultations bedeviled by half-truths shared between Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who is said to be taken aback and his kinsmen, the Itsekiri ethnic nationality threatening secession.”
Explaining what he meant by half-truths, he said, “The governor has been saying that the land size he acquired for the project is 2,700hectares. Following notice of revocation of Rights of Occupancy duly signed by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, November 11, 2013, the Kpokpo/Okpeleama land covering 335.554hectares was acquired for the purposes of the EPZ project. If you subtract 335.554hectares from 2,700hectares claimed as the entire land acquired by Governor Uduaghan, it does not amount to 2,560 hectares the Itsekiri are claiming was acquired from their territory. The whole thing remains a chaotic mess, which Governor Uduaghan, for the purpose peace, needs to clear up to educate his Itsekiri kinsmen and the world.”
Meanwhile, ethnic nationalities in Delta South senatorial district, comprising Ijaw, Isoko and Iteskiri, in concert with Urhobo (Delta Central), have agreed to set up a mediation committee on inter-ethnic conflicts/crises among ethnic groups in the state.
The decision was reached yesterday in Warri when the Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri Leaders Forum, known as the 3-Is, hosted executives of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, who paid a peace building visit at the home of Pa Johnson Ayomike.
Among other resolutions contained in a communiqué at the end of the meeting, the Delta Central and South leaders agreed to work in sustained unity in the atmosphere of mutual respect and trust to engender even economic and political development across ethnic boundaries.
“The Urhobo, Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities of Delta Central and South senatorial districts respectively reaffirm earlier resolution to live and work together in peace and unity based on mutual respect and trust,” the communiqué said.
Present at the event were Chief Joe Omene, President-General, UPU and Edward Ekpoko, Chairman, 3-Is, who also doubles as Secretary, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought.