December 12, 2014
Fellow Nigerians,
There is no doubt that our dear country is going through a trying time in terms of huge security challenges, economic slump and the task to conduct peaceful as well as free, fair and credible elections in 2015.
In as much as the Itsekiri Nation, the second highest producer of crude oil in Nigeria and host to some multinational oil companies know the importance of not heating up the polity so as not to compound the already worsening situation, we are constrained to draw attention of the minds of discerning Nigerians of some of the pains and frustration the Itsekiris of Delta State are suffering in the hands of the Ijaws, especially our Gbaramatu neighbours, who are quick to cry of injustice and oppression from us, when truly they are the actual oppressors.
We want to explicitly state hereunder recent actions/decisions that have clearly shown the arrogant and oppressive tendencies of the Ijaws against the Itsekiris, especially since it became apparent that President Goodluck Jonathan will run for a second term in 2015. Here are some visible examples of the oppression Itsekiri Nation is currently and agonizingly undergoing:
1. The unlawful substitution of the name of Hon. Weyinmi Omadeli, an Itsekiri and PDP Chairmanship candidate for Warri South-West Local Government Area to that of Hon. George Ekpemupolo, an Ijaw and sibling to “ex-militant leader”, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo A.K.A Tompolo less than 48 hours to the October 25, 2014 Delta State Local Government polls. We are waiting for the Judiciary which is our only hope to rewrite the wrong of Hon. Omadeli’s stolen mandate.
2. The controversial directive by the Presidency to Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, an Itsekiri to step down for long serving Senator James Manager, an Ijaw, less than 48 hours to the just concluded PDP National Assembly Primaries with empty promises is painfully fresh in our minds.
3. Less than 24 hours to the just concluded PDP Governorship Primaries in Delta State, Ijaws once again reneged on the understanding that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan will have a major stake on who gets Delta PDP Governorship ticket as sacrifice for stepping down in the Senatorial race for Senator James Manager, by pressuring Distinguished Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to choose his running mate (Deputy) from Ijaw ethnic Nationality so as to get their vote/support.
4. The world and indeed Nigerians should also know that Senatorial candidates such as Chief Ighoyota Amori, Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi as well as worthy House of Representatives’ candidates like Hon. Evelyn Oboro suffered untold agony and delay before their results were announced/released due to their perceived political romance with the Uduaghan administration. Never in the history of this great Nation has a seating /loyal Chief Executive experienced such humiliation.
5. The Gbaramatu Ijaws led by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo stopped President Goodluck Jonathan from performing the Ground Breaking Ceremony of the Ogidigben Export Processing Zone, EPZ in Ugborodo, an Itsekiri community over threat to the sovereignty of Nigeria and till date, there has been no word from the Federal Government on a new date for the EPZ Ground Breaking Ceremony despite appeals by peaceful Itsekiri groups and individuals. Yet Mr. President successfully performed the Ground Breaking Ceremony of Nigeria Maritime University, NMU and NIMASA Dockyard and Shipyard at Okerenkoko (real name Okerenghigho) an Itsekiri Community without any resistance from the Omadino people (Itsekiris) who legally and historically owns the land.
6. The Gbaramatu people till date are still in possession of the midgets, DV tapes, memory cards and other professional working materials seized from the abducted 14 media practitioners. The items contains visual recordings of the EPZ location as covered by the Journalists at Ugborodo, an Itsekiri community after they (i.e the Journalists) peacefully did same at Oporaza a week earlier without any molestation by Itsekiri people, yet the action of Ijaws of Gbaramatu who are quick to cry of being oppressed have not been condemned by the Federal Government many weeks after.
7. The gazette headquarters of Warri South-West Local Government Area, Ogidigben was unconstitutionally shifted to Ogbe-Ijoh to please the Ijaws to the detriment of Itsekiri.
8. The controversial and senseless removal of Barr. Temisan Omatseye, an Itsekiri man without justifiable reason as NIMASA DG to pave the way for High Chief Government Ekpemupolo’s Personal Assistant, Patrick Akpobolokemi to take over and continue the empowerment of his boss (Tompolo) with juicy Maritime Security contract, almost making the Nigerian Navy Irrelevant is equally fresh in our minds.
9. Nigerians, particularly Deltans should ponder and know which ethnic Nationality between Ijaw and Itsekiri is suffering injustice and oppression. We should shine our eyes as the 2015 polls approaches fast. Truth they say is an Open Wound.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Long live Delta State!
Signed
Oritsegbegbemi Besidone Anthony Gbone Franklin Metsese
Chairman Secretary PRO
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