By Ovedhe Jerry
AN Ijaw group, under the aegis of Ijaw People’s Development Initiative ,IPDI, has called on the federal government to immediately approved the demand for inclusion of oil surveillance contracts by Urhobo ex-militants as same was currently enjoyed by their counterparts in the Niger Delta region.
In a news briefing Comrade Austin Ozobo who is the president of the group said that the demand for the oil surveillance contracts by Urhobo ex-militants was in order, saying that it was unfair to marginalized Urhobo nation in the award of the oil surveillance contracts and that the struggle was a collectively fought and that the contracts should not be monopolized to certain individuals alone.
The activist stressed that ”there is nothing wrong in considering Urhobo nation in the oil Surveillance contracts” the Urhobos are also major oil PRODUCERS,’ they should be included so as to give them a sense of belongings, saying ”though I caution Urhobo ex-militants against pipe line vandalization as a means to fight on their course ”But I fully support the award of the surveillance contracts to
Urhobo ex-militants, ”it is their right to have it and let’s not pretend about it’ give them their right”
”It is sometimes annoying when your rights are denied unlawfully and that is what is happening to our Urhobo Brothers” Imagine, I called one ethnic bigot who is unduly enjoying surveillance contracts as I was pressured by some of my supporters who wants an employment, But this deranged bigot told me that
surveillance jobs are meanly for oil producing communities, ”we were disappointed. ‘‘This was a struggle that was collectively fought.
”You can see how some people are taken undue advantage of the struggle for the detriment of others. ‘The deep involvement of some good spirited individuals, groups and non oil impacted communities in the Niger struggle are forgotten. ”This is a share wickedness, it is Carlos and barbaric”.
He however urged President Jonathan to expedite action to incorporate Urhobo ex-militants in the award of the oil surveillance contracts before his finally exit from power on May 29 to avoid further damages on the nation’s economy.
