OGHENETEJIRI NYERHOVWO
Isoko youths in Delta State have threatened to launch coordinated attacks on oil facilities in communities in their area of the two Isoko (North and South) Local Government Areas of Delta State.
This threat is contained in a statement by United Coalition Front Emancipation Movement (UCFEM) signed by Mr. Ogbu Igbele, Spokesman of the group made available to Reformeronline in Warri.
Mr. Igbele disclosed that the refusal of the companies operating in their land from employing Isoko youths in their onshore and offshore platforms is one of the reason they would launch the coordinated attacks on their facilities to disrupt oil production.
The Spokesman of the Isoko youth group also alleged that the refusal of the oil companies to promote the very few Isoko sons and daughters working with them into management positions is another reason for then to attack oil formation in the area, they described the development of not promoting their own to management positions as an “aberration” to the oil producing communities.
Mr. Igbele said that Isoko nation had not occupied it’s rightful place as an oil and gas bearing community and host to many oil and gas companies.
According to the group, “OML 26, 28, 30, 61 and others should directly engage Isoko youth into the onshore/offshore of it’s platforms and also carryout intensive training of the people on various skills acquisition programmes.”
The group added, “failure to address the above, there shall be coordinated attacks on oil and gas flow stations, facilities, pipelines and trunklines including movable and immovable equipments and materials of the oil companies in our land”.
They called on contractors, expatriates, engineers and non-indigenes working with the oil companies to quit Isokoland for safety reasons, adding, “we are using this opportunity to call on contractors, expatriates, engineers and non-indigenes working in oil companies in Isokoland to leave because of their safety.”
Mr. Igbele disclosed that there had not been any visible or viable Federal Government project in Isokoland since it’s creation in 1963 despite it’s contributions to the nation’s economy, adding, “be it violent or peaceful, there has been continuous denial of Isoko youth into the Presidential Amnesty Programme(PAP)and training in whatsoever arrangement.”
The group’s spokesman frowned at the situation where the views of the youth were not being recognised in decision making process.
He alleged that some prominent politicians, opinion leaders, elders and traditional title holders had hijacked the positions meant for the youth leaders in Isokoland.
According to him, some of them had descended so low to the extent of signing columns as youth leaders, representatives on youth empowerment and other programmes coming from both the government and oil and gas companies.
The group spoke further, “the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) should disclosed the names of those involved in signing columns on behalf of youth leaders and representatives alongside Irri Community Development Committee in Isokoland.”
“The group also called on the management of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) to give them their due entitlement, adding, “the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) should stop denying the Isoko youth of the benefits of the dividends and programmes accruing from the 13 per cent derivation fund from the federation’s account.”
The group further added, “some political office holders, traditional title holders and some elites have turned themselves into spokesmen on behalf of the youth in Isokoland, they have automatically become beneficiaries of youth empowerment and other incentives to the detriment of the youth.”
Mr. Igbele, however, warned that there would be coordinated attacks in Isokoland whenever the group noticed any perceived enemy or fifth columnist working against the interest of youth development in the land.
