A strategic Youth
group in the Niger Delta known as the Niger Delta Youth Advancement Assembly
(NDYAA) has berated management of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company,
NLNG to henceforth bring to a halt incessant use of security operatives for
intimidation and harassment of youths the Niger delta who had largely spoken
out against the company’s decision to locate NLNG Drydock in Badagry.
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| R-L Niger Delta Youth Leaders: Justice Ajemina Jumbo, George Banigo, Emmanuel Bristol-Alagbariya, Aladiokuma Hart, Simeon Wilcox, and Livingstone Membere |
Speaking to a group of
journalist in Port Harcourt the leader of the group, Comrade Asinyetogha Brown
condemned in strong terms the recent development saying latest invitation of
the Leader of Bonny Youths Federation, Barr. Simeon Wilcox, President of
Kalabari Youths Federation, Livingstone Membere, IYC National Secretary General,
Emmanuel Bristol Alagbariya among others to the office of the State Security
Service and to the office of the Rivers state Police command perfectly fits
into this emerging pattern.
The Niger Delta Youth
Advancement Assembly helmsman stressed that no matter the level of intimidation
or harassment, Niger delta youths will never back down on its demand to have
the drydock reverted to the Niger Delta region. According to him, the recent
antics by NLNG have further proven that the company is neither moved by the
significant concerns of its critical stakeholders nor bothered about the state
of unemployment and abject poverty ravaging the region.
“We are using this
medium to alert Nigerians that if anything happens to this group of youths they
should know where it is coming from, but for us there is no going back because
we are resolute and shall pursue this matter until we reach a logical and
regionally acceptable end.” He said.
The emerging situation
according to him also shows that the company’s policies are anti Niger delta,
he explained that the management of NLNG led by the ethnocentric Managing
Director, Babs Omotowa is yet to come to terms with the fact that the
headquarters of NLNG has moved from Lagos to Rivers state prompting such
erratic corporate decisions against the people of the region.
Hear him: ”Niger Delta
Youth Advancement Assembly has watched with rapt attention the activities of
NLNG since the appointment of Mr. Babs Omotowa as Managing Director of NLNG and
has come to the conclusion that NLNG has moved from a company who supposedly
should give some level of heed to its host communities to a company rather bent
on subjugating and marginalizing its host communities state and region”.
“Our take on this is
that NLNG should not start a war they cannot end, the Niger delta region has
provided the best atmosphere the company can ask for in terms of security,
providing the best atmosphere for operations to thrive as host even in the face
of lack, environmental degradation and various degrees of deprivation meted out
to the people” he was quoted as saying.
“We want NLNG to see
reasons why they should heed to the call for reversion of the location from
Badagry to the Niger delta region. We must also sound it loud and clear that
the Niger delta youths have the right to a peaceful gathering, including
agitations against unacceptable corporate decisions against the people that
bear the consequences of their gas activities” Brown averred, adding that Niger
delta youths are glad that instead of weakening their resolve and enthusiasm
orchestrated by these emerging NLNG actions it has further galvanized them to
be more determined to fight for their right.
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