Resumed destruction of oil pipelines by angry militant group in Bayelsa State has created palpable tension in Delta State.
Recall that a group of militants, under the aegies of Niger Delta Creek Warriors on December 31, 2018, announced resumption of attacks on oil installations within seven days, beginning with trunk lines at Bonny, Nembe and Forcardos in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States respectively.
The militant group on Sunday, it was gathered, bombed oil installation in Bayelsa State, a development that has sparked fear of the unknown in Delta State.
As early as 9:00am in Asaba, the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa entered into a closed door meeting with all security chiefs in the state with a view to arresting the threats of destruction of oil pipelines in the state by the millitants, who insider alleged, said the next bombing will be in Delta State.
The state Deputy Governor, Barr Kingsley Otuaro, while speaking with newsmen in Goverment House on Monday, said militants should eschew violence on oil facilities as crisis could defeat their legitimate cause.
While urging the militants to rather show patriotism to their land and people by accepting the challenges of evolving a novel and nonviolent strategy in pressing home their legitimate demands, he appealed to the federal government to quickly act and take the wind off the sail of militants it perceives in bad light by implementing the demands of the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF).
He said, “My position on non violence strategy is predicted on my belief in the convictions of Martin Luther King Jr who from experience said ‘to destroy anything, persons or property, can’t bring us closer to the goal we seek a non violent approach has a history of better capacity to garner forces of goodwill to bear on evil for change to a better society”.
Citing examples of no violent approaches, Otuaro said, “For those who hold the facts, the Barrack Obama of US and Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria presidency were products of non violent resistance and dialogue movement rather than self defeating violence approaches”.
Insisting on non violence as a way forward, Otuaro, who is also the chairman of Delta State Advocacy Committee Against Vandalism of Oil and Gas Facilities, said, “Following militants’ flight after vandalization of oil installations, our communities of defenceless citizens have become theatres of military repression with loss of lives, properties and humanitarian crisis.
“This is unacceptable, any possible crisis following breaching of oil installations could also affect the 2019 general elections in the area and deprive the people the opportunity to choose leadership that will rapidly advance their demands for better society.”
Speaking further, Barr Otuaro recalled the famed Ogele ( Non violent protest marches) procession by the ijaw youth Council ( IYC) showed moderation and constructive engagements with the federal government by several other organizations attracted the Sympathy and pressure of other Nigerians and international Community towards the little progress in our aspiration, there is reason to be believe that if we are concerted and orchestrated in non violent approach,we will archive our goals”.
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