A Niger Delta group, has frowned at calls by some ex-Niger Delta agitators for the cancellation of the surveillance contract awarded to Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, PINL.
The group also frowns at the allegations of marginalisation of community youths, involvement in bunkering activities against Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III.
The Group, known as the Buckingham Palace Group, decried the recently issued statement circulated on social media by ex-agitators under the aegis of Aggressive Niger Delta Freedom Fighters Forum, calling on the Presidency to terminate the legally awarded pipeline surveillance contract to the PINL on the basis of the above allegations.
Buckingham Palace Group in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Kenny Amgbare and the Vice President, Festus Ederekumor, absolved PINL and the Olu of Warri of any wrongdoing, describing the allegations as “baseless, ill-conceived and inflammatory”.
The statement said PINL has consistently operated within a framework of inclusiveness, equity and local content by maintaining active engagements with host communities through employment for all host community youths, and regular consultations with community leaders and stakeholders through its monthly stakeholders engagements.
On the allegations of marginalization of host communities/youth leaders, the group said it was untrue, stating that PINL has consistently operated within a framework of inclusiveness, equity, and local content by maintaining active engagements with host communities.
The engagements are through employment for all host community youths, capacity building initiatives, skills acquisition programs, regular consultations with community leaders and stakeholders through its monthly stakeholders engagements.
Buckingham Group dismissed the allegation on involvement in bunkering activities, noting that PINL operates under the direct supervision of federal agencies to defend and deter, not abet, vandalism and oil theft on national pipeline infrastructure.
It said, “To accuse the same security contractor of enabling the very crimes it exists to combat is to misunderstand both logic and law.”
The group also said that the allegations of sponsoring conflicts within the host communities was untrue as PINL operational character is rooted in peace building and reconciliation.
Clarifying on the alleged forceful renaming of communities, the group said PINL, as a private entity, has neither the authority nor interest in such claims; “To suggest that either PINL or His Majesty, the Olu of Warri, seeks to rename Ijaw communities is to peddle a dangerous politically motivated and ethnically divisive narrative and must be disregarded in its entirety.
The Group restated its unwavering support for Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd and for His Majesty, the Olu of Warri, whose reign they said had been marked by vision, peace and dignity.
It further cautioned all public commentators to be careful with their comments, pursue dialogue in addressing their grievances so as not to cause crisis in the Niger Delta region.
It also called on all stakeholders including traditional institutions, community leaders, youth organizations, and civil society groups in the region to stand united against manipulation and to preserve the existing peace in order to deepen development in the Niger Delta.
Source: Desire Lordson, FRCN, Port Harcourt
