EPZ: We’ll not concede our heritage no matter the threat, ICM tells Gbaramatu Ijaws

Radical Itsekiri Socio-Cultural group, Itsekiri Consolidated Movement, ICM has berated Ijaws of Gbaramatu over their threat to resort to self help if the Delta State government does not inaugurate an EPZ Interface Committee for Ijaws, warning that Itsekiri will not concede her heritage no matter the threat.

The ICM which was reacting to report credited to Gbaramatu Ijaws in the Vanguard Newspaper of Friday July 25, 2014 calling for two different EPZ Interface Committees to be created for Gbaramatu Ijaws and for Ogulagha, stated emphatically that Ogulagha is not part of communities hosting the $16 billion Ogidigben Export Processing Zone, EPZ in Warri South- West Local Government Area, Delta State.

The ICM statement signed by its Chairman and Public Relations Officer, Messrs Oritsegbemi Besidone and Franklin Metsese respectively, declared that rather than create fresh Interface Committees for the Ijaws, the Delta State government should seriously consider the inauguration of another Interface Committee to take care of other host Itsekiri Communities of the EPZ aside the Ugborodo Interface Committee chaired by the Delta State government representative, Barr. Austin Oborogbeye.

The group averred that the “crude way of being part of a project that does not have direct bearing on the Ijaws is over”, adding that “should the state government fall for the blackmail by Gbaramatu people, it should as well as set up an office for such committees in Government House”.

According to the Itsekiri group, it negates the principle of good neighbourliness for people “to forcefully blackmail their way into taking what is not theirs”, wondering why the same Gbaramatu Ijaws that treated the Nigerian Maritime University and NIMASA Dockyard and Ship Yard in the same Warri South-West Local government as their private property despite the presence of their Itsekiri neighbours will “now be spitting fire on the EPZ project sited on Itsekiri lands”.

The Gbaramatu Ijaws who were led by Chief Godspower Gbenekama in their latest publication claimed the nominees for their proposed Interface Committees has since been sent to the Delta State government and NNPC.

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