A group, known as Project Niger Delta (PND), has stated that the voiceless majority of Ijaws in Delta State and beyond have been marginalized in the distribution of political appointments and other benefits by the duo of acclaimed Ijaw Leader, Pa Edwin Clark and Chief Oweizide Government, a.k.a Tompolo.
PND, in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, signed by its Executive Director/Coordinator of Project, Comrade Princewill Timipre Ebebi, said it has observed with utmost dismay the activities of Pa Edwin K. Clark and Chief Oweizide Government a.k.a Tompolo and their kinsmen, who derive pleasure in enslaving their brothers from Burutu, Bomadi, Patani, Ogbe-Ijoh in Delta State and beyond with ill-treatment.
The group called on President Tinubu to intervene by directing the National Security Adviser, NSA, to appoint a more credible and accountable person of public trust to man the office of the Presidential Amnesty program to reflect the template of the program which would prevent manipulation, insecurity, and bring peace, justice, equity and unity in sharing and allocating our collective blessings.
The letter reads in part: “Mr President should be informed that over the last two decades of both PDP and APC-led federal government of Nigeria, Chief Oweizide Government a.k.a Tompolo, an ex-militant leader of the first phase and his Gbaranmatu Kingdom kinsmen, have enjoyed the following benefits through the collective struggle of the entire Ijaw people for his selfish gains as follows:
“The establishment of the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko in Gbaranmatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State. The erstwhile Deputy Governor of Delta State (Barrister Kingsley Otuaro), who deputised Sen. Ifeanyi Authur Okowa hails from Gbaranmatu Kingdom.
“A three-term serving House of Representative member Hon. Julius Pondi, the member representing Burutu Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, is a nephew of Chief Oweizide Government a.k.a Tompolo on record. Chief Oweizide Government a.k.a Tompolo, who enjoyed a surveillance contract across the Niger Delta region during ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of PDP and APC-led Federal Government until date.
“Tompolo has applied nepotism in all the nominations and appointments of Delta State executives, including DESOPADEC and other sensitive appointment slots shared with the Ijaw people in Delta State and beyond.
“The only Federal and State Government-recognised traditional institution that attracts the attention of the seat of power in Nigeria in Delta, Bayelsa, Edo, and Ondo states among the Ijaw dwelling territories is Gbaramatu Kingdom, which comprises only fourteen (14) communities in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, while the rest of the gazetted traditional Kingdoms in the Ijaw ethnic nationality with the majority population suffer modern-day slavery.
“The current Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly (Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor), hails from Gbaramatu Kingdom, and many others on record.
“Moreover, in addition, Pa Edwin Clark has continued to reign with the glory of the Ijaw people and has benefited from the following incentives. As an elder Statesman, he was able to appoint his son Hon. Ebikeme Clark as one-time Burutu Local Government Chairman.
“Through the glory of the Ijaw people, he was able to establish his private university in Kiagbodo with our collective resources. Pa Edwin Clark was an erstwhile Urhobo Progressive Union Student Executive. Pa Edwin Clark has secured abandoned contracts through the collective glory of the Ijaw people.
“Mr President should note that the orchestrated injustice meted out to the voiceless majority among the Ijaw populace has placed us in a quandary before our fellow Ijaw brothers, who continue to enjoy our collective blessings. That is to say, we must seek permission and approval from one man and one kingdom to survive and fulfil our collective destinies in Nigeria.”
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