left-right: US Consul General, John Bray, HRM Oboro-Gbarau 11, Aketekpe, Agadagba, the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom and USAID Director, Blair King during the visit.

By Francis Sadhere, Warri

The US Consul General, John Bray and the Director, United Sates Agency for International Development (USAID), Blair King on Monday were on a fact-finding mission to Gbaramatu community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta.

Bray who spoke at the palace of the monarch of Gbaramatu kingdom, HRM Oboro-Gbarau 11, Aketekpe, Agadagba said the visit was in furtherance of their efforts of bringing peace to the crisis-ridden region and also an opportunity for them to see things for themselves.

The United State Consul General stressed that the visit was also an affirmation of the strong ties between the United States government and Nigerian government, adding that they have always been on the forefront of searching for peace in the region through dialogue.

He said, “Our mission today is the continuation of the long term engagement of promoting peace through dialogue in the Niger Delta region. Even before our task today, our government has been engaged in this effort since last year. We are here to promote peace in the region.”

“We have worked with many friends, including a number of people in this room, to determine what the truth is in the region. It is our pleasure to be here on the ground today. We are here to learn about the situation on the ground. I respect this accolade, I appreciate receiving it, but we are here to visit communities and walk the ground and see with our eyes some of the things you have talked about in this document. We hope this is the same thing that the Vice President did two weeks ago. But we hope more than anything, to learn how to maintain peace in this very important region, the US Consul added.

Bray also noted that since last year, the US has engaged with the appropriate stakeholders, including the federal Government, state government, traditional rulers, civil societies and other citizens to ensure that peace finally returns to the region.

Responding, the monarch of Gbaramatu Kingdom reassured the US Consul General that the people of Gbaramatu kingdom are peace loving people, stressing that before now, they had agitated for what they were entitled to, but noted that they no longer believe in violence to press home their demands.

While reiterating their support for the Pan Niger Delta Forum, the monarch said it was disheartening to note that after the meeting with the Presidency by critical stakeholders of PANDEF, the government has not taken any action nor set up an enquiry to look into the demands.

On the Nigerian Maritime University, the monarch said that the commencement of academic activities in the university will build the much need confidence in the present administration in the heart of the people of the region.

The monarch also urged the Federal Government to ensure the smooth take-off of the twin projects of the Deep Sea Port, Gbaramatu and the Gas-City, Ogidigben both located in Warri South West Local Government area of the state, noting that the commencement of work in both projects would create employment for the teaming unemployed youths in the region.

He also appealed to the Federal Government to revisit the Escravos River and Environs Electrification project initiated by the Federal Government in 2011, which he said have been abandoned even after funds were been allocated for it.

The monarch also appealed to the US Consul to prevail on the Federal Government to return their golden symbol of authority which was seized on the 28th of May, 2016 by a detachment of the Nigerian army who invaded the community.

The Gbaramatu monarch assured the United States Consul General that the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom abhor pipeline vandalism, illegal crude oil refining and other criminal activities in the region as such activities hinder economic progress and development.

Earlier, the Gbaramatu Traditional Council of Chiefs in their welcome address, called on the Federal to dismantle all military formations in the area, saying that they are peace loving citizens of the country who abide by the laws of the land.

They said there was no basis for the continued militarization of the region as the people of the region were not fighting against the Federal Government, adding that they are not fighting for secession from Nigeria.

They also aligned themselves with the PANDEF which comprises stakeholders, leaders and youths in the region, saying that they the Federal Government should immediately look at the 16 points demands of the PANDEF for lasting peace in the region.

They also appealed to the United States of America to call on the Nigerian Government to demilitarize the region, noting that the region is not at war with the Federal Government. They also called on the United States of America to compel the Nigerian Government to address the issues on ground with a view to proffering solutions to them.

The Gbaramatu Traditional Council of Chief led by Chief Wellington Okrika commended the US Consulate General for finding time to come and see things for himself, adding that they were all ready to work with the US and Federal Government in making sure that peace finally returns to the region.

The US Consul General and the USAID Director later took a tour of the facilities at the proposed Nigerian Maritime University located at Kurutie.

Meanwhile, Kokodiagbene community has told the US Consul General that despite its peaceful disposition with all the oil assets in the community,    management of Chevron Nigeria Limited as well as the Shell Petroleum Development Company, have continued to neglect and marginalized the community in the scheme of things.

Chairman of the community, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, recalls that the community won the most peaceful host community award with N10 million monetary gift from Chevron in 1998 and bagged another N4.5m in 2003 at the peak of the Niger Delta crisis when it deployed community youths to protect all the oil and gas facilities in its territories.

He however lamented that aside those awards, there were no developmental projects sited in the community either by the Federal, States or Local government as well as the oil majors.

He therefore urged the Government of United States of America to prevail on the Federal Government and the oil majors, particularly Chevron Nigeria Limited to complete the shore-protection, reclamation and sand filling project started by Niger Delta Development Commission but was abandoned.

“Our other demands include construction of more buildings for Kokodiagbene secondary school, the only boarding school in the entire riverine host communities in Delta state.

“We want electrification of the town through Chevron flowstation (Otunana) less than two kilometres away as well as completion of the riverine Cottage General hospital awarded and abandoned by SPDC. He also mentioned provision of adequate water supply for the people amongst others demands.