Niger Delta militants tell Buhari they now want a say in how oil blocks are allocated
SEVERAL community and militant groups in Delta State have sent a warning to incoming president General Muhammadu Buhari that they will not accept the exclusion of the Niger Delta people in the allocation of oil blocks in Nigeria.
With the victory of General Buhari at Nigeria's recent presidential elections, fears have been raised about Niger Delta militants resuming their war with the state. Already, several militant leaders like Asari Dokubo have said they are considering returning to the creeks to take up arms as they feel disenfranchised with the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Hailing from Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta, President Jonathan's presence in office had led to an abating in the militancy as the Ijaws basked in one of theirs holding Nigeria's highest office. However, given his recent defeat in last Saturday's presidential elections, the prospect of renewed violence looms large.
Several Niger Delta interest groups have said that following the failure of President Jonathan to secure the support of northerners and south-westerners in the presidential elections, the people of the region now want to take a stand on how oil blocks are allocated. According to one source, several meetings have been held and more would still hold to arrive at a common position, as renewal of the oil block licences will become due soon.
“You can see how they voted during the election. Every ethnic group voted for their own but they want to come back to the Niger Delta to take away our resources without even recognising that we should be involved in the allocations.
“Let them come. We are waiting for them,” the source added.
He pointed out that the recent destruction of oil pipelines and formations in the Niger Delta area was just a warning signal to the authorities that the people would not be ready to take it lightly anymore. Last week, a gas pipeline was blown up in Delta State, with Urhobo Gbagbako, the pan-Urhobo youth group admitting responsibility.
“You can see that most of the oil block licences come from the North and other parts of the country. However, when it came to voting, they mobilised their people against our son,” the source added.
Urhobo Gbagbako claimed responsibility for the Friday bombing of the oil pipeline at Ighrenene community between Afiesere and Ekiugbo, and the shutting down of all the oil fields in Urhobo and Isoko nations. Its spokesman, Priest Omodjuvwu, said the bombing was to protest the neglect of the ex-militants of Urhobo extraction in the award of pipeline surveillance contracts by the federal government.
With the victory of General Buhari at Nigeria's recent presidential elections, fears have been raised about Niger Delta militants resuming their war with the state. Already, several militant leaders like Asari Dokubo have said they are considering returning to the creeks to take up arms as they feel disenfranchised with the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Hailing from Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta, President Jonathan's presence in office had led to an abating in the militancy as the Ijaws basked in one of theirs holding Nigeria's highest office. However, given his recent defeat in last Saturday's presidential elections, the prospect of renewed violence looms large.
Several Niger Delta interest groups have said that following the failure of President Jonathan to secure the support of northerners and south-westerners in the presidential elections, the people of the region now want to take a stand on how oil blocks are allocated. According to one source, several meetings have been held and more would still hold to arrive at a common position, as renewal of the oil block licences will become due soon.
“You can see how they voted during the election. Every ethnic group voted for their own but they want to come back to the Niger Delta to take away our resources without even recognising that we should be involved in the allocations.
“Let them come. We are waiting for them,” the source added.
He pointed out that the recent destruction of oil pipelines and formations in the Niger Delta area was just a warning signal to the authorities that the people would not be ready to take it lightly anymore. Last week, a gas pipeline was blown up in Delta State, with Urhobo Gbagbako, the pan-Urhobo youth group admitting responsibility.
“You can see that most of the oil block licences come from the North and other parts of the country. However, when it came to voting, they mobilised their people against our son,” the source added.
Urhobo Gbagbako claimed responsibility for the Friday bombing of the oil pipeline at Ighrenene community between Afiesere and Ekiugbo, and the shutting down of all the oil fields in Urhobo and Isoko nations. Its spokesman, Priest Omodjuvwu, said the bombing was to protest the neglect of the ex-militants of Urhobo extraction in the award of pipeline surveillance contracts by the federal government.
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