A coalition of militant groups from the nine states of the Niger Delta led by the Supreme Egbesu Freedom Fighters (SEFF) has thrown its weight behind a former Niger Delta warlord, Government Ekpemupolo popularly known Tompolo, on his threat to shut down all major flow stations, oil wells and pipelines owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The militant group also vowed to cripple oil installations in the region if the Federal Government fails to inaugurate the substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) after seven days. This is a similar ultimatum issued by Tompolo last week.
The militants are asking President Muhammadu Buhari to call Akpabio and his cronies to order and immediately inaugurate the board to avert the looming huge blow on crude oil production.
Read Also: Nigeria Needs A New Constitution – Niger Delta Congress
While supporting the ongoing protest of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, the militants said after the ultimatum, they would shut down the Escravos-Warri to Kaduna NNPC major delivery crude lines, the Escravos Lagos Atlas Cove and the Trans-Escravos Warri-Kaduna gas line supplying electricity to Abuja.
They also threatened to disrupt the operations of the Trans-Forcados 48-inch terminal underwater Shell/NNPC crude pipeline and the Chevron RMP24 Clough Creek if Akpabio refuses to allow the Federal Government inaugurate the NDDC board.
In a statement issued yesterday, the coalition through an electronic mail at the end of an emergency meeting convened by the SEFF’s Commanding Officer, ‘General Agadagba Obus popularly called Thunder, stated that the Trans-Nembe Bonny Creek Crude Pipeline would not be excluded from the coordinated operation.
The militants in the statement said: ‘And if Akpabio refuses to yield to this noble piece of advice and still go against the common interest of the Niger Delta people and decide to continue to hold the entire Niger Delta region to ransom and refuse to let go his grip, the economic consequences of our planned action should be on him.
‘The Presidency and the Federal Government should hold Akpabio, the minister of Niger Delta Affairs and the Sole Administrator of the NDDC, Effiong Akwa responsible. The Supreme Egbesu Freedom Fighters and the other agitating militant groups should not be held responsible for whatever befalls the region.
‘We want to make it clear that with the way things are going, President Buhari, who was elected to provide good governance for the welfare and betterment of the Niger Delta people and Nigerians at large, has refused to listen to cries of the Niger Delta people’.
The militants said they would not fold their arms and allow Akpabio and his cohorts to rubbish the collective will and aspirations of the Niger Delta people.
They said Akpabio’s strangulation of the NDDC was frustrating the tireless peace efforts of some political leaders like the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-agege.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
