Urhobo High Chiefs Appeal to President Tinubu Over Okuama Crisis
The Council of Urhobo Traditional Chiefs (CUTC), which consists of Urhobo Chiefs from the 24 kingdoms/ Clans that made up the entire Urhobo ethnic Nationality in Nigeria also known as UKOKO R’ILOROGUN R’URHOBO, in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu expressed their sadness over the happenings in Delta State particularly in Okuama and the neighboring towns and appealed to the federal and Delta State Governments, as well as the Military for a total cease-fire that can pave the way for a meaningful and peaceful dialogue with all the critical stakeholders in the incident that led to loss of lives on the part of the military and other Deltans.
Worried by the incident, the Council of Chiefs noted that Nigeria can not be at war with her citizens. Hence they called on President Tinubu to take proactive measures to quel the protracted crisis in Okuama to save the remaining lives and properties by prevailing on the Military to stop further reprisal attacks on Okuama and other neighboring coastal communities.
This call according to them is to stop other angry and agitated youths from nearby commununities from hijacking the crisis and see it as an opportunity to start tempering with the nation’s Oil and Gas assets located in the Niger Delta region.
Meanwhile, the Council of Chiefs noted in their press statement that the on-going incident is the handiwork of enemies of Nigeria, who do not want President Tinubu to succeed with his renewed hope Agenda that is intended to bring Nigeria back on track for the betterment of all Nigerians.
Accordingly, CUTC, asked all agrieved youths in the region to remain calm and not allow the incident to degenerate further to cause further hardship for the country and her citizens, especially now that Nigerians are already going through hard times.the Council stated.
In the public statement signed by its’ president-general, Olorogun Hon Ekure Felix, the Secretary-General, Olorogun Dr. Samson Oboh and Patron,who was also immediate past 1st Deputy President General of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, the Apex social cultural group in Urhobo land, Olorogun Capt. Dr Anthony Onoharigho,they noted “Mr. president have very listening ears and also loves his people. The Council of Urhobo Traditional Chiefs, hereby request the Federal and Delta state governments, the National Assemblies, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and the Federal Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs to live up to their responsibilities by ensuring that there is a proper welfare programme for families of the killed military personnel. Furthermore, the group requested that the same humanitarian activities be
extended to innocent aged women, men and children of Okuama who are still hiding in the bushes and creeks without any access to food, shelter and health care.
While calling for calm and humanitarian service to be extended to the victims, the Council appealed to the Military to engage the civilian populace with professionalism, ethics and International best rules of engagement. That way, it will allow the innocent victims access to humanitarian support services especially those who are still lucky to be alive.
Furthermore, the Council of Chiefs expressed their griefs over the fallen heroes and called on the federal government to quickly provide a high panel of Investigation to unravel the actual killers and those behind them in order to bring them to Justice.
Below is the excerpt of the letter
AN OPEN LETTER TO MR . PRESIDENT (HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU GCFR) AND COMMANDER IN-CHIEF OF THE NIGERIA ARMED FORCES.
BY
THE COUNCIL OF URHOBO TRADITIONAL CHIEFS (CUTC) ALSO KNOWN AS UKOKO R’ILOROGUN R’URHOBO.
OKUAMA CRISIS; A CALL TO BUILD PEACE!
1) The Council of Urhobo Traditional Chiefs (CUTC),a duely Registered Ethnic Organization with the Coperate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The Council consist of URHOBO Chiefs drawn from the twenty-four(24) kingdoms/ Clans that made up the Urhobo ethnic Nationality in Nigeria.
Hereby writes this Open letter to our dear president, the Federal and Delta State Governments, and the Military for a total CEASE-FIRE to pave the way for Meaningful and peaceful Dialogue with all critical stakeholders in this ugly incident, were our Military Men said to be on a service to better the Economy of our Nation lost their lives and that of other citizens of Nigeria.
2) The Council in her opinion states that; ” NIGERIA CANNOT BE AT WAR WITH NIGERIANS” Therefore call and advise our dear Mr. President ( PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU GCFR), to do the needfuls of taking proactive measures in quelling this protracted ugly Crisis to save lives and properties by appealing and prevailing on the Military to stop further reprisal attacks on OKUAMA AND OTHER COASTAL COMMUNITIES BEING IT URHOBO OR IJAW COMMUNITIES.
3) This Critical stakeholders dialogue is very necessary now to stop further the angry and agitating Youths from hijacking this crisis as opportunity to start tempering with the Nation’s OIL AND GAS PIPELINES AND OTHER ECONOMIC FACILITIES in the NIGER-DELTA REGION AND IN URHOBO LANDS.
4) The Council Viewed
this incidents as the Handiwork of Enemies of Nigeria, who do not want Mr. PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU GCFR to succeed with his RENEWED HOPE Agenda that is making huge success in bringing Nigeria back on track for the betterment of all Nigerians.
5. The CUTC, also call and advise all the agrieved youths to remain calm and not allow this ugly incident to degenerate further to cause further hardship for the country and her citizens,as Nigerians are already going through hard times.
6. We believe that Mr. president has a very listening ear and also loves his people. The Council of Urhobo Traditional Chiefs, hereby advise the Federal and Delta state governments, the National Assemblies, National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA), and the Federal Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs to live up to their responsibilities as to ensure a PROPER WELFARE PROGRAM for the families of the Slain Military Officers and Men, then extend same to the innocent, aged, Women and Children of OKUAMA who are still hiding in the bushes, Creeks and Currently been denied Access to FOOD, SHELTERS AND HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.
7) The Council Strongly Appeals to the Military to engage the Civilian populace with Professionalism, Ethics and International best Rules of engagement, in this regards to allow Access to these Communities for humanitarian Support Services to the living Ones.
8) CONCLUSION: The Council (CUTC) further express hope that our Top Military and Defense Chiefs should kindly understand the present situation of the insecurity in Nigeria,as the council share in their moments of griefs and the Plans to give the fallen Heroes a befitting right of passages and for the government to quickly provide a good Welfare program for the Widows and the children of the fallen Gallant Soldiers as we also expect that an IMPARTIAL HIGH PANEL OF INVESTIGATION, will Unravel the actual killers and MASTERMINDS and to bring them to Justice.
NIGERIA WILL SUCCEED AGAINST HER ENEMIES; AND PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU GCFR MUST SUCCEED!
#LETPEACERETURNTO OKUAMA..
Signed:
1) OLOROGUN(HON)
EKURE.O.FELIX
President General
CUTC.
2). OLOROGUN( DR.)
SAMSON OBOH
SECRETARY-GENERAL
CUTC
3). OLOROGUN( CAPT.)
ANTHONY
ONOHARIGHO Ph.D
PATRON
CUTC.