An Itsekiri elitist group, Itsekiri Progress Club, IPC, has warned that any attempt by the National Assembly to create a Toru-Ibe State comprising of Itsekiri lands out of the present Delta State against the will of the Itsekiri people as well as laid down constitutional provisions will not be accepted by the Itsekiri nation.
Chairman of IPC, Engr. Fred Ogbe dropped the hint in an address at the 2013 Annual General Meeting Dinner/Lecture of Itsekiri Progress Club held in Warri, Delta State, Our Senior Correspondent reports.
Engr. Fred Ogbe who wondered how the National Assembly intends to create the well publicized Toru-Ibe state in a proposed map where there is discordant tunes, said the map which covers all of Itsekiri land makes the Itsekiris wonder if those agitating for Toru-Ibe state really want a new state.
The IPC Chairman who bemoaned what he described as the non appointment of Itsekiri sons and daughters into federal ministries, departments and agencies, called on the federal government not to treat Itsekiris as a non-existent ethnic nationality in Nigeria, pointing out that not a single Itsekiri was appointed as chairman or member of governing councils of federal universities.
He commended the federal government for the proposed amnesty programme for members of Boko Haram sect as well as the declaration of state of emergency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.
In a lecture titled “The Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, the implications for the Itsekiri people”, a seasoned oil industry expert, Engr. Alexander Neyin opined that since interventionist agencies like OMPADEC, NDDC, Niger
Delta Ministry cannot bring the desired development to the oil and gas producing areas of the Niger Delta and Iwere land in particular, the agencies should be part-owners and come up with plans and programmes that will transform Itsekiri home-lands to modern towns and cities, just as he added that a PIB that will include this will ensure permanent peace in the region.
Engr. Neyin who expressed disappointment on what he described as a poor representation by representatives in Niger Delta States’ Houses of Assembly, tasked politicians to brace up to their roles.
He challenged Itsekiris to ensure that they are not left out in the PIB debate rather they should articulate programmes to include mental and intellectual aggression to ensure that their interests is sufficiently taken care of in the proposed bill.
The member representing Warri federal constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Daniel Reyenieju who responded to questions at the event blamed the non completion of Koko –Ogheye & Omadino road on the NDDC which he accused of frustrating the contractor handling the project.
The federal lawmaker revealed that 250 Itsekiris who have been shortlisted in the amnesty programme will be trained abroad for Masters& PHD degrees in fertilizer or gas engineering in any university of their choice.
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Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
ISSN 2354 - 4104
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