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Itsekiri youths, under the aegis of Niger Delta Omega (NIDO), have issued a 14-day ultimatum to Federal and Delta State governments and all International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in their land to rename the location of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko as Okerenghigho as allegedly recognised by the law of Nigeria.
NIDO stated further that other reasons for ultimatum include immediate provision of licences to Itsekiri to own and operate oil blocks and modular refineries in their land, completion of the Koko-Ogheye-Lagos road project, employment of Itsekiri indigenes by the IOCs, provision of light, drinkable water, hospitals and motorable road with bridges to connect Itsekiri areas in the Niger Delta.
The youths, in a statement signed by their spokesman, Agbogunyo Oliriogun, said that failure to meet their demands within 14 days would attract their wrath on all assets of the Federal Government and the international oil firms, adding that it would be better for the oil companies to move all their personnel, equipment and installations before the end of theultimatum if they know they won’t be able to meet up with their demands.within the stipulated days.
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The statement reads in part: “Though the Itsekiri nation produces about 30 per cent of the nation’s oil production. It is sad to note that most Itsekiri from oil producing communities have not seen a tarred road, television, an hospital, electrical powered light, fan or a car as a result of the stealth wickedness by the government and the IOCs in under-developing our land.”
“We note with dismay how both factions of the Itsekiri National Youth Council (INYC) are using the current situation in Itsekiri to do their private self-centered business to the detriment of the tribe. The youth leadership of the Itsekiri people that is supposed to provide leadership has ended up being hijacked by politicians who now use it at will to satisfy their interest. It is most shocking that both factions of the INYC don’t care about how the tribe is faring, neither do they think of what their actions may cause the tribe in the long-run, rather their concern is power-tussle and how to use the tribe to hustle for political relevance.
“In line with the foregoing, we call on all Nigerians at large and Itsekiri in particular not to take any action from both factions of the Itsekiri National Youths Council (INYC) serious because they are both hustlers and jobbers who are not to be taken seriously, hence all their threat and ultimatum should be ignored as it is merely a tool to gain government patronage. We warn the two factions of the INYC to keep clear from all activities for the survival of Itsekiri by NIDO or they should be ready to face our wrath.”
