A group known as Urhobo Oil and Gas Nationality (UROAGAN), has asked the Federal government to give Urhobos their deserved benefits from the crude oil and gas production.
The group in a statement titled: Urhobo ethnic nationality produces the highest crude oil and gas in Delta State: A call on the Federal and State governments to give Urhobo the deserved benefits, expresses displeasure over the treatment of Urhobos.
UROAGAN in a statement signed by Chief Godwin Ogbetuo JP, (Patron), Chief Dr Obiuwevbi Ominimini, (National Chairman), Okakuro Engr Anthony Onyokoko, (Secretary) and Olorogun Hon Paul Abada, (Publicity Secretary), also alleged that Urhobos who produce the highest crude oil and gas in Delta state is subjected to political manipulations in the state owned Commission called Delta state oil producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC.
Read the statement below:
“Despite the known fact that Urhobo Ethnic Nationality produces the highest crude oil and gas in Delta state, there is no commensurate benefits to the Urhobo Nation arising from these huge sacrifices and contributions of huge financial resources to the Nigeria & Delta state governments, moreso for the immediate past 8 years. Urhobo is a very peaceful Ethnic Nationality with a high sense of the Nigeria Nationhood but the reward for our peaceful and loyalty to the Nigeria project has been rewarded with deprivation in the petroleum sector where we are a major contributor. Our volume of crude oil and gas production is far more than the quantum of production of some states.
“The Urhobos are not found in the board of NNPCL or even as any of the Directors in the corporation. Those who do not bear the brunt of oil and gas exploration and exploitation are the ones occupying the various lucrative offices in the NNPCL. The very few Urhobos in the corporation are not promoted as their counterparts or colleagues are speedily promoted above them. In fact there are Urhobos that have been perpetually kept as casuals in NNPCL without being staffed. All these scenarios stated above also applied to other strategic Oil and gas corporations like NPDC, NAPIMS, NGC, DPR, WRPC, NUPRC, PPMC, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority etc. The question is, do we shift our stand from being a peaceful Ethnic Nationality and resort to self help against these calculated oppression and deprivation? The answer is no. We therefore call on the Federal government as a matter of urgency to correct these abnormalities against the Urhobo people given our huge contributions to the oil and gas production in Nigeria.
“We have nothing to show for it in the Government owned establishments and appointments in Nigeria, despite our enormous contributions. We humbly call on Mr President, a very reliable Administrator and Leader to change the Narrative and status quo. Also, we the Urhobos reject the casualization of our Sons & Daughters in the petroleum sector. We believe in Mr President capacity to do effect these as further government appointments should therefore reflect the appointment of Urhobo sons and daughters into the critical oil and gas establishments in Nigeria.
“It is still shock of the century that Urhobos who produce the highest crude oil and gas in Delta state is subjected to political manipulations in the state owned Commission called Delta state oil producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC thereby bringing Urhobo to 3rd in benefits which is nothing but a clear cut marginalization. This is ridiculous and callous. The indices being used today at DESOPADEC is an act of deprivation & economic starvation. This ugly practice is not even documented in any form nor is there any empirical evidence to back it up. It is not from the Department of Petroleum resources, DPR nor from any government office. So what gives authority to such marginalization of placing Urhobo as 3rd. It should be reversed with immediate effect and put Urhobo first. The question, one may ask, what makes production figures static for over 16 years? We are calling on the Delta state government to as a matter of urgency facilitate an official report from DPR on the production of Crude oil and Gas of the various Ethnic Nationalities in Delta state”.
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