A group under the aegis of Lower Niger Oxygen HB LNO has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to consider crude oil endowment in the Niger Delta as free gift of nature to the inhabitants like the Zamfara gold deposit which was mined and exported by the Zamfara State Government.
The LNO also advised the former Leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta MEND Oweizide Ekpomupolo popularly known as Tompolo to jettison the 4.8billion monthly surveillance contract awarded to him by the Muhammadu Buhari administration for him not be at dagger drawn with his fellow Niger Delta.
The spokes person of LNO who preferred to be addressed as Alpa, after it’s meeting in Udu near Warri; warned sons of Niger Delta “not to be used as easy tools to cause division, bloodletting and acrimony for a plate portage”.
Alpa maintained that as far the Federal Government could allow the Zamfara people and government to freely mine and sell gold deposits found within the state, they don’t have the moral right to stop those who partake in the crude oil business to better their lives.
The spokesman of the LNO noted that for decades, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the multi-national oil companies, have been exploring oil in the region, with its revenue used to develop other areas without considerations for the environment in which the crude oil is drilled from.
He added that as the government has failed to perform its statutory functions, the people should be given the right to enjoy the dividends of their environment.
Alpa noted that calls from socio-cultural organisations, the elders, youths and other stakeholders on the federal government to constitute a substansive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission to address some developmental needs fell on deaf ears for the past three and half years.
“But they deem it necessary to award surveillance contract to safeguard crude oil pipelines, but not interested to develop and address the challenges of these oil bearing communities.
“It’s only a fool that will take this government serious. The crude oil is our birthright, we will use it to better our lives.”
He further warned that any son of the region who tries to stop the livelihood that crude oil business provides in the region would be labelled anti-Niger Delta and will be dealt with accordingly.