By Francis Sadhere
The Ijaw Gbaramatu of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State today vowed to stop the groundbreaking ceremony of EPZ project scheduled for Friday November 14, 2014 by President Goodluck Jonathan.
They are protesting their exclusion from the EPZ project and threatened to do everything possible to halt the planned ground breaking ceremony on Friday.
The peaceful protest which took place at Oporoza, Headquarter of Gbaramatu Kingdom saw angry youths carrying different placards with inscriptions as; “Don’t Mistake Our Peaceful Disposition For Weakness,” “EPZ Escravos Gbaramatu Youths Say No,” “The Name of EPZ Ogidigben, An Invitation To Crisis & Chaos,” “Delta State Govt is Partial,” Mr. President Stay Clear Unless Our Right is Given.”
According to a press statement issued by the Traditional Council and the entire people of Gbaramatu Kingdom in respect of the proposed ground breaking ceremony of the EPZ project, it accused NNPC and the Federal Government of taking sides with the Delta State Government in “promoting an Itsekiri agenda aimed at continuous oppression and marginalization of the Ijaw people of Gbaramatu Kingdom.”
The statement which was read by Chief Godspower Gbenekama, the Benimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom on behalf of the Traditional Council and people of Gbaramatu kingdom, warned that if President Jonathan decided to come for the ground breaking on Friday, his action will not only disrupt the peace in Delta State but also the entire Niger Delta region.
According to the statement; “We have called you here today to help us draw the attention of the world, particularly the presidency, to the injustice and unfair deal being meted on the Ijaw people of Gbaramatu Kingdom on the ongoing Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State and imperativeness of the Federal Government, Delta State Government and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to swiftly redress the situation in order to avert another crisis.”
They stated that the decision of Ugborodo Community and Governor Emmanuel to name the EPZ project after Ogidigben, an Itsekiri enclave knowing full well that a larger portion of the land lies in Ijaw land, was an insult not only to the entire people of Gbaramatu Kingdom, but also an invitation to crisis and chaos.
“We are not opposing the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project perse, but we are opposed to the grand design by NNPC/Government to oppress and marginalized Gbaramatu Kingdom in a project that cuts across major parts of our land.
The Federal Government, Delta State Government and NNPC cannot take the land of Gbaramatu Community without giving us our dues; it is unacceptable and Gbaramantu children would resist and fight it with the last drop of their blood. We are peace loving people, but our peaceful disposition must not be taken for weakness,” the statement read further.
The people also rejected the Interface Committee inaugurated by the Delta State Government, stressing that the committee was made up of only the Itsekiris against the wish of other stakeholders.
It therefore called for the renaming of the EPZ Ogidigben to reflect the joint ownership of the project by the Ijaws and the Itsekiris and also demanded that another Interface Committee be set up for the Ijaws of Gbaramatu Kingdom to maintain balance and peace.
The Gbaramatu people also demanded that Julius Berger Nigeria Limited should stop its wicked divide and rule antics in the EPZ project and carry Ijaws along in whatever they were doing.
Speaking to journalist after the world press conference, Mr. Paul Bebeminibo advised President Jonathan to shelve the planned groundbreaking of the EPZ project pending when all issues are resolved, stressing that the Ijaw Gbaramatu will not fold their arms and watch while the Itsekiris take all the glory for the project that is cited in their land.
Mr. Pondi Kestin who also spoke to journalists said that though they were happy that the EPZ project was cited in their land, they are against naming the project after an Itsekiri village, adding that the project should be given a name that reflects both communities.
Others who spoke to our correspondent were; Sir Victor E. Eseimieghan, Chairman Benekrukru community, Victor Tonlagha and Godwin Olufemi, all stressing their resolve to fight against the injustice meted on the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom.
