A group of Urhobo Ex-militants under the auspices of Urhobo Arms Struggle
(UAS) has vowed to join forces with the Presidency and security agents to
curb the menace and scourge of oil theft across Urhobo land and waterways
in both Delta and Bayelsa States.
The National Chairman of UAS, Ex-General Israel Akpodoro , who gave the
assurance during a courtesy visit on a Former Senatorial Aspirant on the
platform of the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Comr.
Daniel Idonor, at the weekend in Abuja, applauded the move by President
Goodluck Jonathan to provide adequate security for oil and gas
installations sited in Urhoboland in the Niger-Delta.
“My Leader, we are all ex-agitators of Urhobo extraction. We are here
this morning to convey our sincere best wishes to the presidency through
you in your capacity as a world-class journalist who was for six years
chairman of the prestigious State House Press Corps; and still working in
President’s office. I and my group want to use this visit to pledge our
support and loyalty to the President and the federal government for
recognising Urhobo youths in the Niger-Delta arms struggle”.
The group also expressed gratitude to the Presidency and the Federal
Government on the renewed efforts to enhance the security of lives and
properties of Nigerians and foreigners living around Urhobo Riverrine
communities in both Delta and Bayelsa States.
Akpodoro who thanked President Goodluck Jonathan, his Chief of Staff,
Chief Mike Oghiadomhe and the Special Adviser to the President on
Niger-Delta and chairman of the Amnesty programme for Niger-Delta, Mr
Kingsley Kuku, said current efforts by the trio to ensure that indegenes
are carried along in the security of government establishments in their
domain is a welcome development.
He assured that with these ongoing efforts by the Jonathan led government,
Urhobo stakeholders must as a matter of priority begin to rally support
around both the federal and Delta state people oriented programmes and
policies, essentially those that are targeted at the youths, elderly and
unemployment.
The Urhobo ex-agitator also urged traditional rulers and politicians of
Urhobo extraction to support genuine ongoing efforts by President Goodluck
Jonathan to empower Nigerian youths.
He however appealed to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta state to
include the development of Ewhu, Okparabe and Arhavwaren Kingdoms in the
2014 state budget, insisting that these three kingdoms are the least
developed in Urhoboland particularly and Delta state in general.
He explained that these three kingdoms with enormous agricultural
potentials have not been opened up for social and infrastructural
development, as a result, the area’s agricultural resources have largely
remained untapped over the years.
Responding, Comr. Daniel Idonor thanked the group for the visit and
promised to convey their gratitude to the President and the Chief of Staff
to President, even as he appealed to Urhobo and Niger-Delta youths to at
all times support the sincere ongoing efforts by President Goodluck
Jonathan towards the transformation of every sector of the Nigeria
economy.