Edith CHUKU
Niger Delta Liberation Force NDLF, in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the Orashi region in Rivers State, has warned the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL and the National Security Adviser NSA, against awarding federal government security and pipeline surveillance contract to state government.
The group in the oil rich Niger Delta region, loyal to High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich, popularly known as Egberipapa, gave this warning during an emergency meeting at Okwuzi-Egbema.
While stressing that pipeline security and surveillance contract was way beyond political interest, NDLF warned that involving state governors in the contract would cause more damage than make it work.
In a release made available to TNN by the ‘commander’, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni region-Mr I.E. Kelly Rufus, shortly after the meeting, the group emphasized that “this is not about politics. Pipeline security and surveillance contract is way beyond political interest. Bringing state governors into the contract means that the governors will bring in their party faithfuls instead of engaging the key players of the state.
“Bringing in state governors will rather cause more damage than make it work. State governors will begin to see some leaders as their political opponents to sideline them and thereby resulting to avoidable crises in the region.”
NDLF further requested that “the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and office of the National security adviser (NSA) should invite the leaders of various state by themselves to engage them directly and not through any state government or a third party.
“The state governors in question have not given account of their security votes. They should rather focus on delivering the true dividends of democracy and governance to the people they represent and allow the NNPCL; a nonpolitical cooperation to engage the people by themselves without politicizing it.”
They also expressed an unflinching appreciation to Jackrich for the financial support given to young entrepreneurs and small scale business owners in the state.
According to the release “earlier today, some senior comrades and top commanders of the Niger Delta Liberation Force NDLF, from Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni LGA of Orashi region in Rivers State, loyal to the leadership of High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich (Egberipapa) held an emergency meeting at Okwuzi-Egbema.
“It was to appreciate High-Chief Amb. Sobomabo Jackrich “Egberipapa” for the financial support to young Rivers entrepreneurs/small scale business owners, tagged: Business Start-up Grants.
“The grant is to assist their businesses. It is also to thank him for his support to students. We commend him for these steps even though it has always been his routine.
“As Senior Commanders of the Niger Delta Liberation Force from the Orashi region of Niger Delta, we are expecting to hear from our principal as regards his position on the federal government pipeline security and Surveillance Contract.
“Recall that during our last meeting in his Degema residence in November 2023, he asked that everyone of us loyal to him should remain calm and not take any action as to sabotage the daily crude oil production.
“He pleaded that we should rather assist in our various region to reduce the illegal bunkering activities in the state and that the NNPCL has intervened and has assured them; critical state actors of inclusion in December.
“Our meeting today is a wakeup call for both the government and NNPCL to do the right thing to avert any avoidable crisis in the region.
“As freedom fighters, our empathy for humanity is paramount and so we laud the rare commitment and determination of our principal, Egberipapa for always putting smiles on the faces of children.
“The sixth edition of his usual Christ meal last December 28th was massive, inspiring and worthy of commendation. We therefore, encourage him to continue in his usual fancy of putting smiles on the faces of Rivers people and offcourse, the entire Niger Delta region.”
