Edema flays Delta Government, CNL, others, over neglect of Itsekiri homeland as host communities' protest enters day eight

The Immediate Past two - time President of National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG, Comrade Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema, has strongly criticized what he described as the continuous neglect of the Itsekiri Homeland (especially the Benin River axis) by Delta State Government and Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, "despite the incontrovertible fact that Itsekiri Nation is the largest producer of crude Oil and Gas in Delta State and second largest in Nigeria."

The former leader of Itsekiri graduates, expressed his strong condemnation in a statement made available to Fresh Angle International this morning, Saturday July 16 as the protest against Chevron Nigeria Limited by ," Itsekiri host communities " in Dibi, Olero and Abiteye Fields, enters day - eight today.

He explained : "The protest by Indigenes of Olero, Dibi and Abiteye fields, is due to the gross neglect and marginalization of our people in the distribution of Infrastructural development. It is disheartening to see that there is no single functional Primary Health Care facility or General Hospital from Ureju to Ugbege or Ejekporo, neither is there Electricity. The residents in these areas live in abject poverty and squalor, with no hope of a better future.

"The fact that this is our reality, despite Delta State being ruled successively by Medical Doctors in the last 16 years, is only a testament to the wickedness and hatred of the State Government to the Itsekiri people."

The apparently angry Edema, added: "The Management of Chevron Nigeria Limited and other Oil Majors, exploring Crude Oil and Gas in our land, must as a matter of urgency take the issues of health care, electricity, and environmental degradation very seriously, else we may be sitting on a time Bomb that will consume all of us.

" I wish to commend the leadership of the protesters, for making the Delta State Government and Chevron Nigeria Limited to embark on face - to - face assessment of our communities.

"I make bold to say that all demands of the protesters are genuine and must be met before the protest will be called off.

"It is on record that Chevron Nigeria Limited has not given the Itsekiri Nation any job slot for about Nine years.

Those in VTP5/OTP2, and VTP6 program were unjustly denied their permanent employment by the Management of Chevron, despite completion of their program over 6 years ago and Chevron's inability to issue them their OPITO Certificate."

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