From Joe Obukata Ogbodu, Warri
Tension is brewing in some parts of Warri, the commercial hub of Delta State as one of the ethnic groups, the Itsekiri nation, has threatened to shut down all oil and gas installations in their domain to protest what they called ‘compromised final report’ on ward delineation exercise.
This followed reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has perfected plans to release a final report on the controversial ward delineation exercise conducted in Warri federal constituency.
The development, if not averted beforehand, may likely breach the peace in the area and cause a fresh economic crisis in the oil and gas sector as a pro-Itsekiri pressure group, yesterday, warned of the impending danger.
The group, Iwere Indigenous Peoples’ Movement (IIPM), in a communique after an emergency meeting in Warri, yesterday, warned that Nigeria’s oil sector would bleed as from Friday July 4, if nothing urgent was done to avert plot by the Itsekiri to totally shut down critical oil and gas facilities in Warri, parts of Delta Central and Edo State. The communiqué alleged that the INEC, backed by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, had concluded plan to release a “compromised final report of ward and unit delineation in Warri federal constituency, despite the “legitimate, historical, statistical and scientifically verified documents submitted to INEC and Office of the National Security Adviser, after release of the obnoxious delineation report earlier presented to stakeholders in Asaba, Delta State. In the communiqué, which was signed by Messrs Emiko Oghomienor, Ofoyeju Izuagie, Appearance Afejuku, Samuel Meyiwa Khalil, Ejeh Wilson and David Mamah, IIPM hinted that arrangements had been concluded to totally shut down all oil and gas facilities, including tank farms, export terminals, flow stations, depots, operational offices of International Oil and Gas Companies (IOCs) as well as sea ports in Itsekiri homelands from 12 midnight on Friday, July 4.
It further read: “Since Federal and Delta State governments have decided to disregard the Itsekiri people known for respecting the rule of law, maintaining peace and security, we are left with no other option than to toe the path the government prefers.
“Treating our collective resolve with levity would have grave consequences for the socio-economic life of the country. We will not allow any dot of our homeland to be forcefully and illegitimately given to our customary tenants, under the pretext of ward and unit delineation.
“The about-to-be released INEC final delineation report for Warri Federal Constituency, made nonsense of INEC’s guidelines, rubbished court judgements on ownership of lands in Warri Federal Constituency and portrays Nigeria as a lawless state.”