IPDI condemns, rejects award of N-Delta pipelines maintenance contract to Northern cabal

•Accuses NNPC GMD of fanning embers of war in Niger Delta

By Peters Monday, Abuja

Renowned Niger Delta Advocacy group, the Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI has condemned and rejected the award of all rehabilitation contracts of the Niger Delta pipelines to four Northern oil companies by the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari.

This was contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Group, Comrade Ezekiel Kagbala who said that Kyari is sidelining and depriving the Niger Delta of her legitimate rights, arguing that such is inimical and could spark up another round of oil war in the country.

According to the group, Niger Delta was not carried along in the award of such multiple billionaire contracts, warning that the good people of the region would protest against the barbaric neglect of the region that produced the resources that feed the nation.

IPDI expressed disappointment that the region is not benefiting anything from major contracts as all the benefits are channelled to the north, also more disturbing is the fact that the government had not considered expanding the scope of the contract awarded to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, stressing that the renewal of the contract had lingered for too long.

According to him, “We are not against other regions benefiting from the oil wealth in our region, it is only cruel and unacceptable for the people of the region to be sidelined, neglected and left to suffer. Currently, the region has made sacrifices to protect the nation’s oil assets, yet the government seemed not to appreciate the people’s selfless sacrifices for the nation.

“Niger Delta people are Peace-loving that should not be taken for granted. We demand that the contract should be reviewed to include Niger Delta interest, or else the companies should be ready for more tedious tasks perhaps, running the pipes from the air, and not through the Niger Delta soul. The injustice against Niger Delta should be corrected to avoid rancour and tension in the region,” he added.