”Reconsider the pipeline contract award, or we’ll embark on marathon protest” _ ex- militants to FG
As multiple condemnations continue to trail the award of pipeline surveillance contract to Tompolo, an ex-militant by the Federal Government, youths under the aegis of Akwa Ibom Ex-militants have kicked against the engagement arguing that the action of the government to have awarded such a bogus contract to a sectional former leader of ex-militants has denied ex-militants in the state from benefiting whereas oil pipelines run through their land as well.
They describe the failure of the federal government to involve them from Akwa Ibom during the negotiation as the height of marginalization.
This position was contained in a petition addressed to President Muhamadu Buhari and copied to security agencies signed by General Johnson Solomon, State Coordinator, and Comrade Godwin Edohoaqua, State Secretary.
According to the Akwa Ibom Ex-Militants Forum, they have threatened to shut down oil production in the State by picketing the facilities if the Federal Government does not revoke the N48 billion pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tompolo.
The group said it was wrong for the Federal Government to award the contract for the surveillance of oil pipelines passing through Akwa Ibom State without engaging youths from the State whose communities have suffered environmental degradation over the years as a result of oil exploration and exploitation.
Recall that the Federal Government had on Monday last week renewed an N4 billion monthly contract for the surveillance of oil pipelines to a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Mr Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
The release called on the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to revoke the contract with Tompolo to accommodate former Niger Delta agitators from Akwa Ibom State as most of the oil and Gas pipelines pass through the State.
“In 2015, when President Goodluck Jonathan was about to hand over to President Muhammadu Buhari, Ex-Militants from Akwa Ibom State in our numbers protested to the National Assembly against a similar contract which did not accommodate us.”
“Leadership of the National Assembly with Heads of Security agencies received our protest letter and assured us that Akwa Ibom Ex-Militants will be accommodated in future contracts.”
“It is wrong for the Federal Government to shortchange the youths of Akwa Ibom State by awarding such a bogus contract to a sectional former leader of Ex-Militants while Gas and Oil pipelines cris-crosses our land but we are not engaged, we won’t accept such marginalization”,
“We are giving the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to address the situation or we will embark on a marathon protest that will shut down Oil and Gas production in Akwa Ibom State”,
“Our youths have refused to be involved in oil theft and pipeline vandalism because of our patriotism to Nigeria and the agreement we signed with the Federal Government during Amnesty but that should not be a criterion for us to be marginalized in the award of such a contract”, the release stated.
The group advised the Federal Government to award the contract in sections to accommodate youths of all the oil Producing States in the region to avoid renewed agitation and possible negative actions that will defeat the purpose of government intentions.
“We are familiar with the terrain and pipeline routes running across the State and only youths from Akwa Ibom State can protect the pipelines better than a visitor, if our youths are engaged in such a project, the rate of unemployment will reduce”, the group stated.
