Oil Threats: Otuaro Speaks On FG Planned Dialogue To Allay Oil Communities Skepticism

Deputy Governor of Delta State, Deacon Kingsley Burutu Otuaro has allayed skepticism being expressed by oil producing communities in Delta state over the Federal Government planned dialogue to address their growing list of demands.

Otuaro gave the assurance at the weekend following claims that his recent interface with Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo was an attempt to sideline some key stakeholders from the planned dialogue.

The deputy governor said that arrangement is on top gear for the federal government to meet with the oil bearing Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Isoko, Ndokwa and Ika communities within Delta State who had protested marginal oil fields allotment and made other demands.

BIGPEN recalled that Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo economic groups and some ex-militants group had last week, complained that they have neither heard from the Delta State Government to which they listened and shelved disruption of oil operations nor the Federal Government which promised dialogue.    

Similarly, the Ndokwa people last week reportedly blocked the Asaba-Kwale-Ughelli dual carriage way for several hours while Ijaw youths of Gbaramatu Kingdom threatened to block the waterways aimed at frustrating movement of oil workers and exploration activities in protest of the federal government indifference posture over their demands.

But, Otuaro, in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Press and Communication, Mr. Bulou Kosin, said that the federal government has not reneged on the promises made to dialogue with the communities and her people.

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“First, the Federal Government has clearly stated it would not allow the ongoing agitations to escalate into bigger problems. That was the take of the Abuja meeting I was invited to. So representatives of the oil communities will be invited and discussions will hold in stages for the mutual benefit of all stakeholders. 

“Only last week, the Federal Government sought information from the Delta State Government that will assist the process while giving indication it was putting together its relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies that will be part of the engagement.

“So I am assuring everyone that our wait won’t be long or endless. Like I have said before, a results-oriented dialogue is a process, not an event and preparations for same have begun. If I was not myself convinced, I would not sustain my appeals to the communities”, Otuaro assured.

Continuing, he said, “I must thank the oil bearing communities in Delta State for listening to appeals of the Delta State Government to exercise restraint and surrender to the coming dialogue table where problems get resolved.

“In Africa, we say patience can cook a stone”. A Sudanese proverb says “patience is the key that solves all problems”. So let’s be a little more patient”, Otuaro pleaded.

“I want the oil communities to know I am equally involved in the pains. This is why in my earlier appeals, I noted, it was unconscionable to abandon the oil communities’ demands which I insisted were legitimate. 

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“With a little more patience, we’ll get to the dialogue table where Almighty God is able to melt any heart of stone that may be. Nonviolence, I hold, is the more courageous path to success on these historic and fundamental demands”, the statement reads.