By Simeon OSAJIE
The leadership and entire members of Aiguobasinmwin Movement Worldwide on Wednesday recommended that the Federal Government should consider involving other ethnic nationalities especially those in Edo State in the decentralization of the 2.1 trillion Naira Pipeline Surveillance in the Niger-Delta Region.
This was contained in a press statement signed by Mr. Iyamu Osaro Culture – President, Mr. Uhunoma Ewere Lucky – Assistant Secretary and Mr. Monday Ohuimumwen JP-Diaspora Coordinator and made available to journalists in Benin, Edo State capital.
According to the Movement, “It is often said that when the purpose of a course or project is undefined, abuse becomes inevitable”. So, is liken to the 2.1 trillion Naira Pipeline Surveillance Contract awarded to only few people instead of people that made up Niger-Delta Region.
“Let us set the record straight, Niger-Delta Region encompasses nine (9) States, including Edo State. However, when matters concerning the Region come under consideration by the Federal Government and the empowerment of her people, a specific ethnic nationality is recognized by the Federal Government to act on behalf of the nine States.
“This act demands prompt scrutiny to preclude the emergence of hostility among ethnic nationalities in the Niger-Delta Region. Those in solidarity for the 2.1 trillion Naira Pipeline Surveillance Contract extension for Tantita Security Services and Maton across the 9 States in Niger Delta Region are people of the same ethnic group who benefit from the huge proceeds of our collective wealth/contracts as against the entire people of Niger Delta Region.
“It is also a known fact that, ‘when a blind man has excessive sand in his soup, he becomes aware’. We therefore request that the 2.1 trillion Naira Pipeline Surveillance Contract awarded to Tantita Security Services and Maton should be decentralized across firms in the nine (9) Niger Delta states in order to attain the desire peace in the Niger-Delta Region, with specific attention to Edo State.
“To this end, we the leadership and entire members of AIGUOBASINMWIN MOVEMENT WORLD-WIDE strongly recommend that the Federal Government should consider involving other ethnic nationalities especially those in Edo State in the decentralization of the 2.1 trillion Naira Pipeline Surveillance in the Niger-Delta Region.”
Going further, the Movement appealed to Senator Monday Okpebholo led government to
humbly interface with the Federal Government in order to see to the actualization of the agitation.
“It is also worthy to note that, the major reason behind this agitation for decentralization of the 2.1 trillion Naira Pipeline Surveillance Contract is to enhance security by ensuring the participation and involvement of diverse local stakeholders and equitable distribution of empowerments and benefits derived from the 2.1 trillion Naira Pipeline Surveillance Contracts across the nine States that made up the Niger Delta Region.
“The era where few people will pocket our collective patrimony is over and must be resisted henceforth,” the Movement said.