Oil Theft: Urhobo Ex-Mlitants Join Forces With Presidency, Hail Jonathan, Oghiadomhe, Kuku

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Monday, January 13th, 2014

A group of Urhobo Ex-militants under the auspices of Urhobo Arms Struggle (UAS) has vowed to join forces with the Presidency and security agents to curb the menace and scourge of oil theft across Urhobo land and waterways in both Delta and Bayelsa States.

The National Chairman of UAS, Ex-General Israel Akpodoro , who gave the assurance during a courtesy visit on a Former Senatorial Aspirant on the platform of the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Comr. Daniel Idonor, at the weekend in Abuja, applauded the move by President Goodluck Jonathan to provide adequate security for oil and gas installations sited in Urhoboland in the Niger-Delta.

“My Leader, we are all ex-agitators of Urhobo extraction. We are here this morning to convey our sincere best wishes to the presidency through you in your capacity as a world-class journalist who was for six years chairman of the prestigious State House Press Corps; and still working in President’s office. I and my group want to use this visit to pledge our support and loyalty to the President and the federal government for recognising Urhobo youths in the Niger-Delta arms struggle”.

The group also expressed gratitude to the Presidency and the Federal Government on the renewed efforts to enhance the security of lives and properties of Nigerians and foreigners living around Urhobo Riverrine communities in both Delta and Bayelsa States.

Akpodoro who thanked President Goodluck Jonathan, his Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe and the Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta and chairman of the Amnesty programme for Niger-Delta, Mr Kingsley Kuku, said current efforts by the trio to ensure that indegenes are carried along in the security of government establishments in their domain is a welcome development.

He assured that with these ongoing efforts by the Jonathan led government, Urhobo stakeholders must as a matter of priority begin to rally support around both the federal and Delta state people oriented programmes and policies, essentially those that are targeted at the youths, elderly and unemployment.

The Urhobo ex-agitator also urged traditional rulers and politicians of Urhobo extraction to support genuine ongoing efforts by President Goodluck Jonathan to empower Nigerian youths.

He however appealed to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta state to include the development of Ewhu, Okparabe and Arhavwaren Kingdoms in the 2014 state budget, insisting that these three kingdoms are the least developed in Urhoboland particularly and Delta state in general.

He explained that these three kingdoms with enormous agricultural potentials have not been opened up for social and infrastructural development, as a result, the area’s agricultural resources have largely remained untapped over the years.

Responding, Comr. Daniel Idonor thanked the group for the visit and promised to convey their gratitude to the President and the Chief of Staff to President, even as he appealed to Urhobo and Niger-Delta youths to at all times support the sincere ongoing efforts by President Goodluck Jonathan towards the transformation of every sector of the Nigeria economy.