Delta Inside Niger Delta National News

CONFUSION AS ITSEKIRI GROUP BLAST AYIRI

•Says he is selfish and responsible in the occupation of Chevron facility

•Called on security agencies to investigate the scenario

WARRI -The Iwere Peace Movement, IPW, a sociocultural Itsekeri group in Delta State have accused Chief Ayiri Emami, an All Progressives Congress bigwig in the state as the mastermind of the protest leading to the occupation of the Chevron facility in Delta State by the Itsekiris of Ugborodo.

The accusation was made today by the IPW in a Press Statement by the duo of Mr. Merie Oritsejolomi- Coordinator and Mr. Johnbull Omadeli- Secretary.

The Iwere Peace Movement alleged that Emami resorted to the act when President Buhari turned down his quest to return Mr. Tuoyo Omatsuli, the immediate past Executive Director of Project of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to occupy same position in the constitution of the new board.

They lambasted the chieftain as being selfish and the brain behind the ongoing protest by some Itsekiris at Escravos while calling stakeholders to investigate the issue.

The statement read in part “We wish to inform the Federal Government of Nigeria, the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited and the general public that the current occupation of the Chevron facility in Escravos by some Ugborodo youths is orchestrated by Ayiri Emami, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) because President Muhammadu Buhari turned down his nominee, the immediate past Executive Director of Project of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Tuoyo Omatsuli, to occupy same position in the new board.”

The statement further observed that his anger was also fueled by the discontinuation of his automated gasoline oil ( AGO), supply popularly known as diesel by Chevron Nigeria Ltd.

“Ayiri Emami is doing this because he has failed to draw the attention of President Buhari with the protest he has organised against the leaders of the party in Warri, as an Urhobo son was nominated to replace Mr. Omatsuli in the new board.”

“The Ugborodo people has never occupied Chevron facility in recent times, even though the issues mentioned by the protesters have been on the table for many years. We wondered why this protest at this time when Ayiri Emami claimed to be a bigwig in the present administration, when he can easily talk to the president and other powerful individuals in the government about the plight of the Ugborodo people, but chose to occupy Chevron facility. As a matter of fact, Mr. President should investigate this current occupation of the Chevron facility to know those that are behind this action.”

The statement further added “We chose to make this issue public because Mr. President and other leaders of the APC may not know the antecedents of Ayiri Emami as a selfish and self-centred person who always work for his pocket and enslave fellow Itsekiris. Let it also be known that Emami must have collected huge sum of money from Mr. Tuoyo Omatsuli in the name of lobbying for him.”

The group also call on the federal government to and the security agencies to question Chief Emami on the alleged occupation of the Chevron facility while noting that the government will be amazed that the Itsekiri chieftain is the mastermind.

Meanwhile, Itsekiris of Ogborodo community in Warri South West Local Governments Area of Delta State have earlier on Tuesday staged a protest on the Escravos Chevron Tank Farm alleging neglect, inequity, discrimination and accused the Company of playing hide and seek with them.

All efforts geared towards reaching out to Chief Ayiri Emami, proves abortive as we could not get his functional phone number or mail


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