Vice President Osibanjo’s visit
to the Niger Delta hit the brick as various stakeholders from the region expresses
disagreement with him in various ways.
Following the vice president’s comment
which states that oil in Nigeria in the region would dry in about 20 to 30 years’
time, one time Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, has
told the VP that oil well in the Niger Delta won't become scarce in the
following 100 years.
In his response, the ex-Minister
depicted Osinbajo's remark as political with no foundation, as he stressed that
those in government must look for data where they don't have such.
Also while addressing journalists
in Abuja, Gbagi likewise scowled at Osinbajo's visit to Olu of Warrior, His
Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli and not going to Urhobo land.
Claiming that the federal
government underestimated the general population of Urhobo for not going to the
zone which was the hob of gas generation in the country.
Gbagi charged that the refusal of
the Vice President to visit Ughelli in Urhobo land, was a replay of what
occurred in 1971 when the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon booked a
visit to the land however the secretary, an Itsekiri did not permit the visit
to emerge.
As indicated by Gbagi, “While we
are looking for peace, the sensibility of Urhobo people should not be taken for
granted, the Urhobo people have been taken for granted for too long in the
scheme of things.
“A similar situation happened in
1971 when Gowon was to visit Midwest which is now Delta, the Secretary then was
an Iteskiri man and they crafted a similar visit to exclude the Urhobo nation,
it is on record that Urhobos hold the bedrock of gas company, that is the major
source of electricity in Nigeria today, not to talk of all the oil wells,
pipelines across the entire Urhobo nation. Urhobos being the 4th largest
nationality in Nigeria have been for sometimes now neglected and relegated to
the background because of their peaceful nature.
“While it appears that trouble
makers get greater reward in Nigeria, the school of violence, agitations does
not belong to any ethnic group. I see the visit of the Vice President as
irresponsibly put together as it is not in the interest of the much desired
peace; I congratulate the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom and all those who walked out
from that gathering of shame.
“I was reliably informed that the
Programme which originally was to see the Vice President’s visit to Gbaramatu,
the Olu of Warri and the visit to Ughelli where the oldest traditional ruler,
the Owhorode of Olomu who is 100 years resides, to host all the traditional
rulers in conjunction with a meeting with the Vice President, was truncated by
the governor of the State and the deputy.
“We should root for genuine peace
to support the good initiative of Mr. president and stop playing lip service or
waste the economic base of Nigeria.
“Quoting the Vice President, at
least 97% of the economy today is rested on oil and gasj his claim that oil
will soon finish or dry up is a political statement without foundation, the gas
situated on Otolobo at least will last for another 100 years, tax payers’ money
earners like the Vice President and persons in government must seek information
where they don’t have them and stop heating the polity.
“I will grant a statement on the
second year of the administration in Delta as I have done in all previous
governments. Urhobos will make our position known to the government at the
Centre.
“The visit of the Vice President
is meaningless, made no statement; it is akin to a personal visit to the Olu of
Warri as there is no policy statement from the government addressing the issues
at hand.”
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