THE relative peace in the Niger Delta region was yesterday threatened in Edo state as youths numbering over 500 took over the office of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over a road contract worth over N3 billion believed to have been awarded to a foreign firm instead of an indigenous one.
The youths from over four communities in Orhionmwon local government council of the state threatened to shut down all oil facilities in the area if the NDDC did not immediately revoke the contract and re-award it to an indigenous company. Orhionmwon has the largest crude oil deposit in Edo State.
The youths gave a two-week ultimatum for the commission to reverse itself or they would carry out their threats.
They said the N3.3 billion Oben/Umoghun-Nokhua/Orogho road contract was awarded two years ago and since then abandoned.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters who carried various inscriptions, Esosa Ogbeifo said; "The way our politicians are taking our affairs is not fair. We should not be taken for granted. We are not cowards. Orhionmwon is the largest oil producing area in this state and the only thing we can get from the government is a leprosarium. We don't want to be violent but we will shut all oil and gas flow station if nothing is done on this road", he said.
In a letter addressed to the Managing Director of the NDDC by a conglomeration of youth associations from the area, Orhionmwon Youths Assemblies, they said the Benin Monarch and other royal fathers have written series of letters to the commission, which have been ignored.
"We have resolved that justice must be done. We therefore say that unless the above road construction is awarded to the indigenous contractor as recommended, we shall be constrained to use all means to vehemently resist any kind of imposition of non-indigenous contractors on us.
"We therefore, give you 14 days ultimatum from the date of the receipt of this letter to ensure that the above road construction is given to indigenous contractor".
Reacting to the issues raised by the protesters, State Coordinator of the commission, Patrick Ighodala, said it was the Bureau of Public Procurement that has the power to give or approve contracts.
He said his office was only told that the contract had been awarded but nobody has been introduced as the contractor.
Ighodala said three different youth organizations have written petitions to the NDDC over the same issue and that the Commission would get to the root of the matter even as he appealed for peace
Source:© Copyright Guardian
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