Sunday, 1 March 2015

PRESIDENT SETTLES IJAW/ITSEKIRI EPZ FEUD.

Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday in Asaba, Delta State, resolved the stalemate between the Ijaw and the Itsekiri in Delta State over the groundbreaking of the $16 billion Delta City Gas City project at Ogidigben, Warri South-West Local Government Area of the State.

It is gathered that a new date of March 15 was agreed fir the groundbreaking ceremony, which had suffered three postponement since 2014.

A reliable source said that the President, who was on a two-day visit to the state, held separate meetings with the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse11, ex-millitant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupoli, alias Tompolo, and Itsekiri leaders,Chief Ayiri Emani.

At the fence-mending meeting it was agreed that the groundbreaking be done March 15 and the ethnic groups should abide by the names proposed by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, for the projects.
It was learned that Uduaghan the Governor of Delta State had to intervene before Ayiri accepted the deal.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been instructed to reach out to the foreign investors of the project to ensure their participation at the groundbreaking.

A PDP chieftain, said he was not at the meeting with Mr. President, but declined to speak on the outcome.
An Itsekiri leader, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, who attended the meeting of the Itsekiri leaders with Jonathan on Friday evening said he was not aware of the definite date of March 15, but he knew the Olu of Warri raised matter afresh and the President said a new date would be fixed before the presidential election on March 28.

Chairman of the Warri Study Group, Mr Edward Ekpoko, whose group threatened earlier that Niger- Delta ethnic nationalities might not vote for Jonathan if the groundbreaking was not performed before the presidential election, said," I was there at the meeting with the President Jonathan on Friday, he said he would do d groundbreaking before the election but no fixed date.
"He told us he would talk with the Governor Uduaghan, for a new date. 


No comments:

Post a Comment