Urhobo Youths urges FG to stop lip service, address their grievances

Urhobo youths under aegis of Rescue Urhobo from Marginalization (RUM) has called on the Federal Government to stop paying lip services to issues of marginalization raised by Campaign for The Economic Survival of Urhobo Nation (CATESUN) and urgently addressed them.

In a communique signed by National President of RUM, Olorogun Fidelis Oghenetega and issued after its meeting held at Asaba, the Delta state capital, the group stated that CATESUN are not alone in the struggle for the emancipation of the Urhobos in the Niger Delta.

The communique reads: “CATESUN points of agitation which includes initiation of fresh process of ceding out the 57 Marginal Oil Fields in order for Urhobo to be part of the process, further probe of the NDDC, reclamation/pilling of all Urhobo coastal communities.

“Resuscitation of the moribund Delta Steel Company, relocation of all headquarters of International Oil Companies to Niger Delta, suspend plan to divert gas from Urhobo to Ajaokuta, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and Niger Republic until all host communities and Urhobo leaders are consulted and considered for contracts and employment.

“Appointment of an indigene of Urhobo as Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and solution to all environmental degradation issues in Urhobo land must be addressed as a matter of urgency”, it added.

It stated that failure by the Federal Government to urgently address the stated points and among others will be met with stiff resistance, having endured injustice, since the discovery of crude oil in their lands.

According to the communique, Urhobo nation is host to several oil and gas facilities, including the multi billion dollar Utorogu Gas Plant, tank farms, best crude oil bonny light and among others but still wallow in abject poverty and deprivation.