Niger Delta does not belong to Ijaw alone, ICM tackles NDIMRC

Radical Itsekiri pressure group, Itsekiri Consolidated Movement, ICM has flayed the call by Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, NDIMRC, that “Ijaw must head NNPC Now”, saying such a petition directed to the Honourable Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke speaks of unbridled greed by Ijaws of Niger Delta, capable of negatively affecting the “already shaky chances of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election”.

According to the ICM, a situation where Ijaw groups and individuals give impression that Niger Delta region solely belongs to Ijaw is most “unacceptable, height of arrogance and politically suicidal , particularly as the March 28 Presidential election draws closer”.

The ICM statement which was released in Warri, Delta State today in reaction to an open letter addressed to the Honourable Minister of Petroleum by NDIMRC in the Vanguard Newspaper of Monday February 16, took a swipe at what it described as eclipsing of other ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta by the Ijaws because President Goodluck Jonathan is an Ijaw by birth.

The statement signed by ICM Chairman, Oritsegbegbemi Besidone, listed positions such as Minister of Petroleum, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Amnesty, DG of NIMASA, the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial district, comprising of Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko as well as the Delta State PDP deputy governorship slot given to Ijaw as some of the key appointments being occupied by the Ijaws to the detriment of other tribes in the Niger Delta.

The statement added that it was only recently that an Urhobo man was appointed Minister of Niger Delta, after Elder Godsday Orubebe, an Ijaw resigned to pursue his failed governorship aspiration.

The Itsekiri group opined that the statement of NDIMRC which claims that people from the West and Northern part of the country were “in the habit of revealing what is happening in the oil and gas sector to their people,” appears to be a justification of alleged sleaze in the NNPC and “not enough reason to call for an Ijaw to be appointed GMD of NNPC”, insisting that “Nigeria is not a Banana Republic where a few people take decisions to suit their selfish/tribal interest without due process”.

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