The Udefi Obaloye of Warri Kingdom, Chief Clement Maleghemi on Tuesday stated the militants in the Niger Delta are fighting a just cause, stressing that though the environment is polluted, the allocation that comes into the various states in the region is not much.
The new Warri Chief made the assertion at his country home, noting that Niger Delta states have been marginalized in spite of producing the oil that sustains the economy of the country.
“The militants are fighting a just cause. I will not say they have done anything wrong. The environment is polluted while the allocation coming to the region is minimal and not equal to what is taken from our land.”
Maleghemi observed that the neglect and impoverishment of the people of the Niger Delta by previous governments prompted the current violence by militants in the region.
He accused leaders of the region of selfish representation of their people at the federal level, and called on them to adopt attitudinal change so as to help the region and save the country from economic collapse.
Maleghemi also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to pursue peace and dialogue with the militants with a view to putting an end to the vandalism of oil facilities, and attract rapid development to the region.
He promised to extend peace and unity within his people and their neighbours, the Urhobos, Isokos, Ijaws, Ika and others in line with the policies of the Olu of Warri Kingdom, His Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli, through his reign as the Udefi Obaloye of Warri Kingdom for development to come to Delta State.
Maleghemi also thanked the Olu of Warri Kingdom for conferring the Udefi Obaloye title on him as he also promised ‘unprecedented employments amongst the youths, provision of basic social amenities and support for quality education among the youths to attract development to their land.
He also urged Deltans to collaborate with the Olu of Warri to contribute more significantly to the development of the socio-economic sector of the Niger Delta region.
Maleghemi further encouraged Itsekiri and non-Itsekiri leaders in the state to use their privileged position to build bridges of infrastructural development, unity, peace, love and tolerance in Itsekiri nation and in the Diaspora.
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