…supports Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri
…condemns marginalization of indigenes
…says it is injustice taken too far
The Isoko Development Union, IDU, the umbrella body of all Isoko citizens has threatened to shut down 57 marginal oil fields in Delta State its citizens are not part of the bidding process.
The group joined voice with its Urhobo, Ijaw and Itsekiri brothers to condemn the injustice meted to their Indigenes in the bidding process of the 57 marginal oil fields in its domain.
Speaking at a press briefing at the weekend, President of IDU, Chief Idu Imiede condemned the marginalisation of its citizens in the bidding process which has become a recurring decimal.
The Isoko leader said” the Isoko nation seriously frown at the marginalisation of our sons and daughters bidding for the 57 marginal oil fields in Delta State. This is most unacceptable because we have many of our indigenes who have the expertise, experience and resources to play key roles in the oil industry.
“But for too long outsiders who are not necessarily better qualified than our people are brought into the system to buy our God given oil assets to our own detriment.
“This time around we are not going to allow it, enough is enough of this injustice.
We are therefore in total agreement with our brothers in the Ijaw land, Urhobo and Itsekiri people that those of us from oil producing communities should be give the right of first refusal in the bidding process. “We therefore call on the federal government to discontinue any action to the contrary.
The Isoko people are giving the government two weeks ultimatum to make positive statements about our demand for fairness and justice. Failing which we will be constrained to shut down all oil and gas fields in Isoko land.
We cannot to allow our people to wallow in poverty all because we are denied our birth right to benefit from our God given goldmine.
“At this point it is pertinent to remind the government that Isoko is a second place where crude oil was discovered in commercial quantity in this country and that was at Uzere in 1958 soon after the first one at Olobiri in Bayelsa state.
“Currently the Isoko crude oil contributes about 19% to the total output of the production quota of Delta State.
“Isoko ethnic nation has eight oil fields namely: Uzere East, Uzere West, Oroni, Ogini, Oleh, Olomoro, Owei, Agip field at Irhi/Oleh which extends to our Isoko community in Osohwonike, Okugbu Isoko kingdom in Sagbama local area of Bayelsa state.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is really very painful that Isoko which has been producing oil for the past 62years to feed the whole country has been totally denied benefits of the natural resource which contributes over 90% to the foreign earnings.
“The main reason is because we have always preferred to tow the path of peace instead of violence.
“It is rather unfortunate that the government only compensate violence and neglect peacemakers like us.
“It is in line with our civilised philosophy of always exploring the peace option that I in my capacity as the President General of Isoko Development Union, the umbrella body of Isoko people all over the world, led a delegation of our leaders including traditional rulers to Mr President Muhammad Buhari to articulate Isoko demand.
We want to use this opportunity to once again express our appreciation to Mr President for his warm reception and his promise to give serious consideration to our nine point demand.