Maritime University renaming: Ijaw Welders and Fitters condemn move

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• Calls on relevant agencies to ignore memo

• Declare to join 5 million man-match organised by ijaw youths

The Delta state chapter of the Ijaw Welders and Fitters Association has condemned in strong terms the controversial memo purportedly sent to the National Assembly advising that the name of the host community of the Nigerian Maritime University should be changed.

Speaking through a release signed and issued by the group’s Chairman, Engr. George Timiyan and made available to GbaramatuVoice on Thursday the 11th of January 2018, the group condemned in strongest terms the illicit and unholy actions and inactions of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami on the planned move of Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State to Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenghigho.

He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to quickly intervene as such action by the AGF is capable of disrupting the relative peace the people of the region are currently enjoying.

In the same vein, he recalled that it was a similar action that led to the crisis in Ogbe- Ijaw, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state in 1996 and which lasted till 1997; a crisis that led to many losing their lives and to the wanton destruction of properties.

He further added that many people lost their jobs as most of the corporate organizations operating in that location relocated outside the state.

The welder boss explained that sites such as Escravos Tank Farm, Alero, Makaraba, Dibi, Opuekeba, Otunana,  Abiteye, Jones Creek, Egwa 1, Egwa 2, Odidi, Bartan and many others were closed down thereby throwing thousands of skilled and the unskilled workers back to the labour market.

Engr. Timiyan specifically stated that over one thousand Welders and Fitters in Delta state lost their jobs in the process. 

In his words, “We the Ijaw Welders and Fitters will not fold our hands; rather, we must identify with the planned 5 million man protest billed for Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory because we do not want a crisis in Delta state.”

He finally called on all the relevant agencies to ignore the memo and go a step further towards making sure that the institution takes off as envisaged in order to maintain the tempo of the existing peace between the Ijaws and Itsekiris of Delta state.

 

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