– As IYC seeks relocation of oil firms to N/Delta
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has cautioned members of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC to ensure they adopt violence-free approaches in their quest to achieve equity, justice, and fair share of the distributable resources found in the Niger Delta region.
Governor Fubara gave the advice when the President of IYC Worldwide, Dr. Alaye Tari Theophilus, led a delegation of leaders and members of the group on Solidarity Walk to Government House in Port Harcourt as part of the activities to mark 26th anniversary of IYC.
Speaking, the Governor hailed the youths for their commitment to upholding and furthering the contributions made by the foremost rights advocate of the Niger Delta region, Isaac Adaka Boro, who fought until his dying days seeking justice for the region.
Governor Fubara said while no person can stifle people of the region from speaking out against marginalization, they must not resort to destruction of valuable national assets.
The Governor warned that he will not tolerate or support anything that will either disgrace Rivers State or embarrass the Federal Government from any group of people in the State.
Governor Fubara explained that if the International Oil Companies, IOCs, and the Federal Government are tackled for perpetrating marginalization and environmental pollution, the people of the region must not exacerbate the situation by vandalising oil pipelines that also impact the environment negatively.
He said: “Violence does not solve problems. That’s the truth. We must all walk together, join hands together to give ourselves that thing that we want. So, I will appeal to you, your message will be transmitted to Mr President. But while we are doing that, you must be law-abiding.
“There should not be any vandalisation of our oil pipelines. It is not the white men that are coming to do it. It is you, our people doing it. So, we need to discourage ourselves from it. We need to encourage ourselves to support the government. When production is high, revenue will increase, those demands you are making will be met. The local governments and the states will get more amenities for you, jobs will be created, more money will be in your pockets,” he added.
Earlier, President of IYC, Dr. Alaye Tari Theophilus, said IYC was 26 years and has remained committed to seeking desirable attention and addressing the many economic, political and environmental injustice metted on the region.
The leadership of the IYC also conferred on Governor Fubara the prestigious honour by naming him the Grassroots-General of Ijaw Nation.
Theophilus listed some of their requests to include, increase of 13% derivation to 50 percent for oil producing states, backed by an Executive Bill, relocation of the headquarters of oil firms to the Niger Delta, and remediation of Ijaw land of oil polluted environments in the Niger Delta, and inclusion of greater number of Ijaw people in mainstream governance at the Federal Government level and in oil sector governance.
