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EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja - Politics - Nairaland

Nairaland ForumNairaland GeneralPoliticsEPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja (3144 Views)

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EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Nobody: 8:12pm On Nov 16, 2014
THE Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has invited Itsekiri and Ijaw leaders
in Delta State to a meeting in Abuja tomorrow over the contentious ownership
of the $16 billion Export Processing Zone, EPZ, project site.

President Goodluck Jonathan abruptly cancelled his visit to Delta State to perform
the ground breaking ceremony of the project, renamed Delta Gas City by the
Federal Government, on Friday, following a threat by the Ijaw of Gbaramatu Kingdom
in Warri South-West Local Government Area
to unleash violence if he came without first
resolving their grievances.

It was the second time Jonathan cancelled the ground breaking ceremony, having
done so in June, based on the same reasons advanced by the Ijaw.

Secretary of the Leaders of Thought, Mr. Edward Ekpoko, confirmed to Sunday
Vanguard, last night, that he was aware to
tomorrow’s meeting.

An Ijaw leader, who confirmed that he was already in Abuja for the meeting, said, “The
meeting is summoned by the Group Managing Director, GMD, of NNPC. They are
saying they did not know that Ijaw actually
own part of the land acquired by the Delta State government for the project and they
did not even know that there is crisis of this dimension over the project site until
we protested, last Wednesday.”

The Federal Government, in a statement, last Thursday, formally announcing the
postponement of the ground breaking ceremony of the Gas Revolution Industrial
Park, GRIP, said the decision was taken by
the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, after consultations with Governor Emmanuel
Uduaghan of Delta State.

Sunday Vanguard was reliably informed that Uduaghan, who had stated 24 hours earlier that nobody could stop Jonathan
from coming to Delta to perform the
ground breaking ceremony, was taken aback at the postponement contrary to the
claim that the decision was taken after
consultations with him.

In fact, the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILT, an influential Itsekiri group, led by Pa J.O.S
Ayomike, never knew the President had cancelled the trip to the state until the day
of the ceremony.

The Friday’s failure of Jonathan to perform
the ground breaking ceremony of the project had sparked controversy with many
asking why the President would suspend a ceremony because of a threat by his kinsmen.

“President Jonathan’s refusal to perform the ground breaking ceremony of the
project as fixed for Friday was a show of cowardice unexpected of his office which
should stand for the rule of law. He has shown that he has joined the Ijaw militants
in building fences among the ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta and Nigeria”, the ILT said.

An Ijaw leader told Sunday Vanguard, yesterday, “We are not against the EPZ
project, what we are saying is that the project is on Ijaw land as well as it is on Itsekiri land. So it should not be named
after Ogidigben, an Itsekiri community alone.”

The Ajuwaoyiboyami of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami, alias Akulagba, lambasted
Jonathan for abandoning the ground breaking ceremony because of threat by
some Ijaw ex-militants.

He said, “The truth must be told that Itsekiri people can no longer fold our arms and
watch Government Ekpemupolo in
collaboration with some of his Ijaw brothers and a few Itsekiri dissidents continue to take what God has given to us.”

source : http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/epz-controversy-nnpc-invites-itsekiri-ijaw-leaders-talks-abuja/
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by gtrust: 8:18pm On Nov 16, 2014
Very good indeed!!!
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Nobody: 8:47pm On Nov 16, 2014
.
The Friday’s failure of Jonathan to perform
the ground breaking ceremony of the project
had sparked controversy with many
asking why the President would suspend a
ceremony because of a threat by his kinsmen.
“President Jonathan’s refusal to perform the
ground breaking ceremony of the
project as fixed for Friday was a show of
cowardice unexpected of his office which
should stand for the rule of law.
The fear of Tompolo is the beginning of cowardice by Jonathan.

grin grin
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Nobody: 8:55pm On Nov 16, 2014
berem:
The fear of Tompolo is the beginning of cowardice by Jonathan.

grin grin
babe hw u go say our GEJ go they fear militant.. U knw who GEJ be ? C in C oo..

#biggrin
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by omololu2020(m): 9:08pm On Nov 16, 2014
OgagaMic:
THE Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has invited Itsekiri and Ijaw leaders
in Delta State to a meeting in Abuja tomorrow over the contentious ownership
of the $16 billion Export Processing Zone, EPZ, project site.

President Goodluck Jonathan abruptly cancelled his visit to Delta State to perform
the ground breaking ceremony of the project, renamed Delta Gas City by the
Federal Government, on Friday, following a threat by the Ijaw of Gbaramatu Kingdom
in Warri South-West Local Government Area
to unleash violence if he came without first
resolving their grievances.

It was the second time Jonathan cancelled the ground breaking ceremony, having
done so in June, based on the same reasons advanced by the Ijaw.

Secretary of the Leaders of Thought, Mr. Edward Ekpoko, confirmed to Sunday
Vanguard, last night, that he was aware to
tomorrow’s meeting.

An Ijaw leader, who confirmed that he was already in Abuja for the meeting, said, “The
meeting is summoned by the Group Managing Director, GMD, of NNPC. They are
saying they did not know that Ijaw actually
own part of the land acquired by the Delta State government for the project and they
did not even know that there is crisis of this dimension over the project site until
we protested, last Wednesday.”

The Federal Government, in a statement, last Thursday, formally announcing the
postponement of the ground breaking ceremony of the Gas Revolution Industrial
Park, GRIP, said the decision was taken by
the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, after consultations with Governor Emmanuel
Uduaghan of Delta State.

Sunday Vanguard was reliably informed that Uduaghan, who had stated 24 hours earlier that nobody could stop Jonathan
from coming to Delta to perform the
ground breaking ceremony, was taken aback at the postponement contrary to the
claim that the decision was taken after
consultations with him.

In fact, the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILT, an influential Itsekiri group, led by Pa J.O.S
Ayomike, never knew the President had cancelled the trip to the state until the day
of the ceremony.

The Friday’s failure of Jonathan to perform
the ground breaking ceremony of the project had sparked controversy with many
asking why the President would suspend a ceremony because of a threat by his kinsmen.

“President Jonathan’s refusal to perform the ground breaking ceremony of the
project as fixed for Friday was a show of cowardice unexpected of his office which
should stand for the rule of law. He has shown that he has joined the Ijaw militants
in building fences among the ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta and Nigeria”, the ILT said.

An Ijaw leader told Sunday Vanguard, yesterday, “We are not against the EPZ
project, what we are saying is that the project is on Ijaw land as well as it is on Itsekiri land. So it should not be named
after Ogidigben, an Itsekiri community alone.”

The Ajuwaoyiboyami of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami, alias Akulagba, lambasted
Jonathan for abandoning the ground breaking ceremony because of threat by
some Ijaw ex-militants.

He said, “The truth must be told that Itsekiri people can no longer fold our arms and
watch Government Ekpemupolo in
collaboration with some of his Ijaw brothers and a few Itsekiri dissidents continue to take what God has given to us.”

source : http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/epz-controversy-nnpc-invites-itsekiri-ijaw-leaders-talks-abuja/
nigerians are takin nonsense from dis ijaw pple,if only i can bcom president in 2015,wot happened in odi would av been a childs play...d itsekiris hav to vote APC next year,itsekiris own warri,so dey should b ones in charge of d 3 local govt
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by rawpadgin(m): 9:20pm On Nov 16, 2014
omololu2020:
nigerians are takin nonsense from dis ijaw pple,if only i can bcom president in 2015,wot happened in odi would av been a childs play...d itsekiris hav to vote APC next year,itsekiris own warri,so dey should b ones in charge of d 3 local govt
itsekire owns warrihuh
are u serioushuh
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by neenar: 9:26pm On Nov 16, 2014
rawpadgin:
itsekire owns warrihuh
are u serioushuh
Yep, Warri is for the Iweres! cool
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by omololu2020(m): 9:29pm On Nov 16, 2014
rawpadgin:
itsekire owns warrihuh
are u serioushuh
yes am serious.dats why we hav d olu of itsekiri,u can go n mak ur research sha
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Nobody: 9:29pm On Nov 16, 2014
omololu2020:
nigerians are takin nonsense from dis ijaw pple,if only i can bcom president in 2015,wot happened in odi would av been a childs play...d itsekiris hav to vote APC next year,itsekiris own warri,so dey should b ones in charge of d 3 local govt
yoruba speaking..

Hw is Warri owned by itsekeri ?.. Have you been to warri b4... SMH.. Yoruba's Always supporting the itsekiri since 1900
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Nobody: 9:31pm On Nov 16, 2014
rawpadgin:
itsekire owns warrihuh
are u serioushuh
bro leave them.. Make them they rant.. Itsekeri ni, itsekiri kor
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Nobody: 9:33pm On Nov 16, 2014
neenar:
Yep, Warri is for the Iweres! cool
you are right the name warri was derived from itsekeri bt tat does nt mean they are the owner of the land.. Warri cut across the urhobo's and the Ijaw land.. So hw re they the owner

the itsekiri don not make up to 40% of warri landmass.. Get your fact right
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Djicemob: 9:35pm On Nov 16, 2014
rawpadgin:
itsekire owns warrihuh
are u serioushuh
Matter of fact, they own delta state.These ijaw people are just trouble makers angry
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by omololu2020(m): 9:40pm On Nov 16, 2014
OgagaMic:
yoruba speaking..

Hw is Warri owned by itsekeri ?.. Have you been to warri b4... SMH.. Yoruba's Always supporting the itsekiri since 1900
y cant d ijaw and urohbo stop d western region govt from changin olu of itsekiri to olu of warri.were d ijaws and urohobos sleepin back den.
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by omololu2020(m): 9:40pm On Nov 16, 2014
OgagaMic:
yoruba speaking..

Hw is Warri owned by itsekeri ?.. Have you been to warri b4... SMH.. Yoruba's Always supporting the itsekiri since 1900
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by rawpadgin(m): 9:41pm On Nov 16, 2014
Djicemob:
Matter of fact, they own delta state.These ijaw people are just trouble makers angry
I totally disagree with u, the ijaws are no trouble makers, i know this because i leave em
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Nobody: 9:44pm On Nov 16, 2014
omololu2020:
y cant d ijaw and urohbo stop d western region govt from changin olu of itsekiri to olu of warri.were d ijaws and urohobos sleepin back den.
awolowo never liked the urhobo's .. And who told you they urhobos and ijaws didn't fight 4 tat name to be changed ?
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Nobody: 9:47pm On Nov 16, 2014
Djicemob:
Matter of fact, they own delta state.These ijaw people are just trouble makers angry
ijaw re no trouble maker its is ur kit and kin (the itsekiri) re the once looking 4 trouble
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Djicemob: 9:51pm On Nov 16, 2014
rawpadgin:
I totally disagree with u, the ijaws are no trouble makers, i know this because i leave em
Or you know so because you are one(an ijaw).Itsekiri and warri stay together no problem but when ijaw comes into the picture there's a problem, why? Plus those peeps spearheaded the niger-delta militancy which gave niger-deltans a bad name.
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Djicemob: 9:53pm On Nov 16, 2014
OgagaMic:
ijaw re no trouble maker its is ur kit and kin (the itsekiri) re the once looking 4 trouble
How? In regards to the matter in view.
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by OAUTemitayo: 9:54pm On Nov 16, 2014
Double post
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by OAUTemitayo: 9:55pm On Nov 16, 2014
You cannot know more than the supreme court
rawpadgin:
itsekire owns warrihuh
are u serioushuh
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Nobody: 10:04pm On Nov 16, 2014
Djicemob:
How? In regards to the matter in view.
looking at the matter.. The ijaw own 70% of the land that will be used 4 the project so y do the itsekeri want to claim everything as if its all on there land.. They ijaw wanted somethin lyk both will share they glory
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Nobody: 10:05pm On Nov 16, 2014
OAUTemitayo:
You cannot know more than the supreme court
wat supreme court re u talking abt ?..
The supreme court the yoruba used to support their kin or which one
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Djicemob: 10:10pm On Nov 16, 2014
OgagaMic:
looking at the matter.. The ijaw own 70% of the land that will be used 4 the project so y do the itsekeri want to claim everything as if its all on there land.. They ijaw wanted somethin lyk both will share they glory
The problem is not with the itsekiris but the govt,NNPC or the coy incharge of the incoming company.They should be directing their protest to the NNPC or the govt not itsekiris or any other tribe.
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Nobody: 10:15pm On Nov 16, 2014
Djicemob:
The problem is not with the itsekiris but the govt,NNPC or the coy incharge of the incoming company.They should be directing their protest to the NNPC or the govt not itsekiris or any other tribe.
the itsekeri always want to claim wat not there's tat y the ijaw re angry
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by omenka(m): 10:18pm On Nov 16, 2014
These are the kind of issues thrown up when you make criminals kingmakers in a country. Where are the Asari Dombfuckubos that make all that deafening noise about shielding their own from some nonexistent threats from "Gambaris"?? Your own brothers are now calling your Lord of host a coward. Are you guys gonna get on your rickshaw and earn your pay or you're just gonna assume the position of deaf and dumb spectators this timehuh


Yeye dey ooze throway here.
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by neenar: 10:23pm On Nov 16, 2014
OgagaMic:
you are right the name warri was derived from itsekeri bt tat does nt mean they are the owner of the land.. Warri cut across the urhobo's and the Ijaw land.. So hw re they the owner
the itsekiri don not make up to 40% of warri landmass.. Get your fact right
Apart from ogbe ijoh and a few other ijaw enclaves, can you list the "60%" you own? Look, dude, Ijaw terrestrial and indeed, aquatic territory starts from Burutu and ends in forcados. Need I school you more?
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by omololu2020(m): 10:25pm On Nov 16, 2014
OgagaMic:
awolowo never liked the urhobo's .. And who told you they urhobos and ijaws didn't fight 4 tat name to be changed ?
y cant u pple go to court
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Nobody: 10:31pm On Nov 16, 2014
neenar:
Apart from ogbe ijoh and a few other ijaw enclaves, can you list the "60%" you own? Look, dude, Ijaw terrestrial and indeed, aquatic territory starts from Burutu and ends in forcados. Need I school you more?
and who said am talking of only the Ijaw's.. Bro the urhobo's re there.. They re the 3 ethnic group that madeup warri and pls don't say they urhobo land is swampy cous i will disagree with u on tat
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Djicemob: 10:33pm On Nov 16, 2014
OgagaMic:
the itsekeri always want to claim wat not there's tat y the ijaw re angry
Are you saying the land belongs to ijaw? If yes,then i'll engage you no further cos it'd be clear you are interested in beer parlour Na-us-get-am-kindof-argument and i don't do such.Present your facts.
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by Nobody: 10:34pm On Nov 16, 2014
omololu2020:
y cant u pple go to court
bro naija court na wash.. Won't trade word with you.. Cous u will always support your kit and kin.

Bt don have the mentality tat itsekeri own warri.. Cous tat a lie
Re: EPZ Controversy: NNPC Invites Itsekiri, Ijaw Leaders For Talks In Abuja by gentleoyink: 10:36pm On Nov 16, 2014
Djicemob:
How? In regards to the matter in view.
In regards to the matter in view, the Ijaws have stated that the name of the project should be changed to something neutral. At present, that name is an Itsekiri name.

If you are conversant with the Warri crisis during the 90s, the Itsekiri claimed Warri as their own while they called the Ijaws and Urhobo's tenants. History says otherwise, there is no record of conquest or rent payment in Warri by any of the tribes.

The animosity between the tribes became pronounced to when the Olu of Itsekiri was renamed to Olu of Warri [1]. he immediately relocated his palace from Ode Itsekiri to Warri. The chest beating of the Itsekiri's increased and they oppressed the other tribes [1].

The issue was settled by dividing Warri into three kingdoms and each tribe had one. even at that, the Ijaws and the Urhobos were content, not the Itsekiris. they still continue to call the other tribes tenants.

For this project, I know what the Ijaws are trying to avoid. They do not want the Itsekiri's to claim that Ijaw land in later years and use the name of that project as a legitimate reason for the claim saying the Fed Govt named it Ogidigben because it was an Itsekiri village.

Those of you saying the Ijaws threatened GEJ do not have any idea of the fight during 90s to early 2000s and even earlier. The fight was between Ijaw-Itsekiri and Urhobo-Itsekiri. The Itsekiris suffered serious casualties and they still want to provoke another one.

It is simple, change the name of the project to something neutral and the problem will be solved.

[1] http://www.waado.org/urhobo_kinsfolk/archive/conferences/first_annual_conference/ConferenceMatters/millennium_session/WhoOwnsWarri.html
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