The Grand Patron of the Ijaw Youth Congress, Collins Eselemo has reiterated that the group’s battle within the Niger Delta focuses on securing management over native assets.
That is following ongoing tensions within the Niger Delta over management of native assets and the administration of pipeline surveillance contracts.
Whereas talking with ARISE NEWS in an interview on Friday, Eselemo stated: “The kernel, the gravamen, and the mainstay of our agitation is centered on controlling our assets; we’ve to be self-determined and be free with ourselves. That’s the mainstay. That’s the kernel and that’s the gravamen.”
Eselemo famous that Tantita works alongside different firms to handle pipeline surveillance, making certain the system is shared and coordinated.
“Tantita, if I’ll say one thing, they aren’t the one firm that’s accountable for this surveillance factor. There are different firms which might be accountable. Like Atake, it subsists by location. It will get from Tantita and it additionally will get from PINL. That’s the one the Olu of Warri has been chairman of,” he stated.
Eselemo argued that the requires decentralization are pushed extra by private acquire than real neighborhood curiosity.
“The Boyloaf who’s agitating for it to be decentralized—I’m simply telling you what he picks: 43 million a month from even amnesty. And you’re agitating? I see this as an act of enviousness on the a part of the Boyloaf, the Atakes, and these Ogoni folks—those that are actually agitating for the decentralization of the pipeline surveillance.”
Eselemo emphasised that the surveillance contract is just not managed by a single firm and is distributed throughout a number of stakeholders.
“It isn’t within the arms of 1 individual,” he said.
He additional warned that extreme decentralization would possibly divert consideration from the Niger Delta, doubtlessly reopening avenues for unlawful bunkering.
“Extra folks have been introduced in already! That’s sufficient! That’s what I imply. Extra folks have been introduced in already. So the concern right here is that this: because the Grand Patron of the IYC, if I’ve to say one thing—what is going on in Iraq is making an attempt to divert consideration to Niger Delta, to convey again to established order this unlawful bunkering. And the Individuals’ funding on this nation will likely be jettisoned, and that may have an effect on the governance,” he warned.
Favour Odima
Times Nigeria