By: Odieh Ramon, Yenagoa.
The umbrella body of all ethnic nationalities in the States of the Niger Delta, the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum for Peace & Development has sent a letter to President Bola Tinubu and all service Chiefs over the alleged attempt by some groups of aggrieved former Militant leaders to provoke security infraction in the region over recent derogatory statements against the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), a company chaired by His Imperial Majesty, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II (CFR).
According to the group, the accused ex-agitators under the Aggressive Niger Delta Freedom Fighters Forum’ recently issued a statement on social media, calling on the Presidency to terminate the legally awarded pipeline surveillance contract to the PINL., The group is faceless and the statement made reckless and without the backing of the ethnic nationalities in the region.
The Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum for Peace & Development, in the open letter titled “Condemnation of Crisis-Inciting Statements Against PINL and the Olu of Warri – A Call for Urgent Presidential Intervention” and signed by its National President, Snr. Amb. Tamuno James (Rivers),
Oritsemeyuwa (Itsekiri), Comr. Udoh Akpan Bassey (Ibibio – Akwa Ibom), Comr. Paul Oromosele (Edo), Comr. Aruwotonye (Ogoni)
Comr. Fred Tijala (Ilaje – Ondo), Snr. Comr. Asuquo Akpan (Efik – Cross River), Comr. Hope Agadaba (Bayelsa), Comr. Amos Keledichuwu (Igbo – Imo State), Snr. Comr Ejiro Oghenerume AKA Last Don (Urhobo – Delta State), Comr. Ufuoma Oterioghene (Isoko – Delta State) and Snr. Comr. Ifeanyi Ebele (Ndokwa – Delta State).
The letter was made available to newsmen via electronic mail after an emergency meeting of urgent national concern by the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum For Peace And Development, conveyed by the National President of the forum, Snr Comr Amb Tamuno James, in Port Harcourt City of Rivers State.
The leaders of the ethnic nationalities across the nine oil-producing states of the Niger Delta region stated in the letter that they convey in the strongest terms their outright condemnation of a recent, reckless statement by a faceless and non-existent group calling itself the ‘Aggrieved Niger Delta Freedom Fighters Forum’.
According to the group, “This so-called group recently released a misguided and highly provocative petition on social media, calling on Your Excellency Sir, to terminate the legally awarded pipeline surveillance contract being executed by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), a company chaired by His Imperial Majesty, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II (CFR).”
“We regard such calls as nothing short of an open invitation to chaos, and a calculated attempt to destabilize the fragile peace that the Niger Delta region has worked so hard to maintain over the years. The baseless suggestion that PINL should be barred from operating in Ijaw territories is a direct affront to peace, unity, and the collective aspirations of the region’s ethnic nationalities.”
“We are particularly concerned that the so-called Aggrieved Freedom Fighters Forum went as far as issuing a petition to Your Excellency, accusing PINL of alleged marginalization of Ijaw youths, rampant bunkering activities, sponsoring tribal conflict, forceful renaming of Ijaw communities, and laying false territorial claims over Ijaw and Urhobo lands.”
“Such inflammatory claims, lacking verifiable evidence, are aimed at creating division, inciting violence, and discrediting a legitimate contractor performing national assignments.”
“For the record and clarity, the national leadership of the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum for Peace and Development wishes to categorically counter these baseless allegations as follows: On the allegation of marginalization:
It is on record that PINL employs all surveillance and security personnel directly from host communities, including Ijaw territories along the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) corridor.”
“The claim of exclusion is false and mischievous. Among all surveillance contractors in the Niger Delta, PINL remains the only company that holds monthly stakeholder engagement meetings with traditional rulers, women groups, youth leaders, and community representatives. This includes the IYC, MOSEIND, Ogoni Youth Council, Bonny Federated Body, and others, in Rivers and Bayelsa states, with NNPC Limited, NSA, and military officials in attendance.”
On the allegation of unchecked bunkering:
This is clearly a distortion of facts. The PINL-managed sections of the Trans Niger Pipeline, spanning Bonny to Nembe Creek and across host communities in Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, and Imo states, have remained vandalism-free for years.”
“This exceptional record is known and acknowledged by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC Limited, and the Office of the National Security Adviser. No other contractor has achieved such performance in our history.”
“On the accusation of sponsoring tribal conflict: The alleged link between the Olu of Warri and a British national found with weapons is spurious and defamatory. His Imperial Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III (CFR) is a globally respected first-class monarch, a peace ambassador across the Middle East and Africa, and an internationally educated statesman with numerous academic honours.”
” He cannot be reduced to the level of engaging with faceless individuals who fail to provide any legal proof of land ownership within Warri Kingdom.”
“On the renaming of Ijaw communities:
The communities cited (such as Okenrenkoko to Okenrenghigho, Oporoza to Opuraza, and Azama to Azatiton) have long histories and names that reflect their original linguistic and cultural evolution. The claim of “forceful renaming” is a deliberate misrepresentation of reality designed to stoke ethnic tension.”
“On territorial claims: The Olu of Warri is the recognized traditional landlord of the vast oil and gas-bearing lands in the three Warri Local Government Areas. These lands host critical oil assets and facilities contributing over 35% of Nigeria’s daily crude and gas production. Any challenge to these facts should be backed with legal documentation, not sponsored media propaganda.”
“Moreover, we also find it necessary to highlight the developmental strides by PINL. The company has provided over 646 scholarships to youths from host communities, constructed borehole water projects, and distributed relief materials to over 150 communities impacted by the 2021 floods across Bayelsa, Rivers, and Imo states.”
” Unlike some other contractors operating in parts of Delta, Bayelsa, and Ondo, PINL has never used security personnel to intimidate or suppress any host community leader or stakeholder. We wish to categorically state that the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum for Peace & Development stands firmly behind the Olu of Warri and the operations of PINL in all parts of the region. We recognize and support the company’s legitimate mandate to protect Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure, which is critical to our national economy.”
“Mr. President, we respectfully urge you to treat this inciteful group as a threat to national security and declare them wanted for inciting violence and attempting to destabilize the now peaceful Niger Delta region. These elements, whose sole interest is profiting from instability and violence, must not be allowed to reverse the gains we have made in peace-building and economic stability.”
“We, the youth leaders from all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta, remain committed to peace, justice, and equitable development. We believe in your leadership and trust that you will treat this issue with the urgency it demands to prevent the resurgence of crisis in our region.”