Itsekiri Patriotic Alliance, IPA, (Open Letter To President Muhammadu Buhari)

Itsekiri Patriotic Alliance, IPA

                                                                                                      Ogbe Quarters, Ugbuwangue

                                                                                                      Warri

                                                                                                      Delta State

President Muhammadu Buhari

President, Commander-In-Chief

Federal Republic of Nigeria

Aso Villa

Abuja,

Your Excellency,

WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF YOUR STRATEGIC, PAINSTAKING AND CONSTITUTIONAL APPROACH TO GENUINE CHANGE

We have carefully and religiously followed events since May 29, 2015 when you and your Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo were sworn into office as President as well as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and have concluded that those accusing your administration of being too slow, either desperately want the era of impunity to continue or are hell bent on further plunging our economy into deeper waters for their selfish and sentimental interest.

Mr. President, your change of Service Chiefs, collaborative efforts with neighbouring countries in the sub-region, appeal for support from European countries as well as your just concluded 4-day visit to the United States on the invitation of President Barack Obama in an apparent bid to tackle the twin teething challenges of the vicious Boko Haram onslaught and corruption, worsened by theft of our crude oil which reached an unprecedented height in the last administration is most reassuring.

Sir, your unshaken resolve to deal with crude oil theft as evident in NNPC, banning 113 companies from further lifting our crude oil, following alleged illegal bunkering activities and DSS quizzing of former Chief Security Officer to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Gordon Obuah for related issues are pointer to your administration’s strategic approach to blocking leakages in the Crude Oil Sector already bedeviled by glut in the International Market and corrupt management at the domestic front.

Mr. President, while we strongly commend you for sacking the Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, who we believe abused the privilege of his office by literally making the Nigerian Navy as well as Marine Police redundant through the controversial award of our maritime security contract to an ex-militant at a sky rocketing amount, we want to appeal that you order fresh military postings to the Niger Delta Coastal areas like Escravos, Forcados and  Bonny to prevent Military Officers, who compromise with celebrated ex-militants to milk our economy dry through illegal bunkering activities, from continuing their complicity.

Your Excellency, we also want to plead with you to probe the arrest and molestation of 14 media practitioners and 6 indigenes of Ugborodo, who went to carry out their legitimate duties sometime last year and were kidnapped for almost seven hours by militants loyal to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, AKA Tompolo, yet the out-gone Federal and State administrations turned deaf ear.

We will equally be grateful Sir if your administration will expedite action on the Export Processing Zone Project, EPZ in Ugborodo, Warri South-West Local Government Area in Delta State.  Your administration should equally as a matter of urgency put machineries in motion to ensure the eventual take-off of Brass LNG project in Bayelsa State. Apart from creating thousands of jobs and building the capacity of indigenous contractors, these projects have strong potential to boost the Nation’s economy, stop crude oil theft as well as open up non oil sectors like the Agro-Allied Industry.

Sir, it is also vitally important to appeal that you do not allow statements credited to former President Olusegun Obasanjo regarding the performance of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and its supposed negative effect on the Niger Delta people affect your determination to provide a truly Pan Nigeria governance devoid of ethno-religious and regional sentiments. After-all, prominent Niger Delta sons like former governors Chibuike Amaechi and Timipre Sylva fought relentlessly for your election against all odds and it is only natural for them to be incorporated in your people centred governance.

Mr. President, we trust that you will not succumb to any form of blackmail from any quarter and we must also not fail to implore you not to be distracted by the unnecessary leadership crisis at the National Assembly caused by former PDP governors now at the Senate as well as elements within the APC who are largely sympathetic to their ‘former’ party, the PDP.

Your Excellency, the coming on stream of the Nation’s four refineries abandoned by the last administration, increase in power generation as evident in improved power supply and the sudden awakening of agencies like NDLEA and EFCC in just eight weeks you have mounted the saddle, is a sure testament of greater days and positive change ahead.

Like all hard-working and honest Nigerians, we are solidly behind your strategic policy direction and zero tolerance for corruption aimed at building a new Nigeria.

Signed:

Erefoluwa Keka            Edema Ulisanmi Justin

President                      Secretary

×