24th February, 2024
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Leading ex-Niger Delta warlords, popularly known as the big four have reiterated their commitment to peace and economic development of the country. Speaking on their behalf after their closed-door meeting at the residence of Senior High Chief Bibopere Ajube, at Agadagba-Obon, Arogbo, in Ese-Odo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State, Ebikabowei, alias Gen. Boyloaf said they are concerned by the economic situation in the country and they are determined to be part of the solution.
Ebikabowei said the government must find solutions to the current challenges facing the country, by ensuring an increase in oil output, noting that there is no way the country “can survive without an increase in our production so that our exports will outshoot our imports”
Ebikabowei said they resolved at the meeting that the Federal Government should work on how to increase the Gross Domestic Production (GDP) of the nation in all its exports.
He therefore emphasised the need for the Federal Government to ensure that the country was able to meet up the oil production quota approved for Nigeria by the the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to increase Nigeria’s export, ability to earn more dollars as well as to halt the decline in the value of the naira.
While insisting that the current oil production in the country can still be improved, Ebikabowei said it was the view of the ex-warlords that this can only be achieved if the Federal Government allow the various states to begin to control and protect the oil assets within their territory to stop the sabotage by politicians.
He therefore called for decentralisation of the oil pipelines protection contract in the Niger Delta, which, he noted has not delivered fully in helping to jack up the country’s oil production to the extent expected
According to him, the contract, being carried out by the Tantita Security Service was a business venture meant to protect the interests of people with political undertone.
He reiterated the of the big four to peace in the Niger Delta, saying, “We understand the present realities facing the country and are, therefore, committed to the peace and progress of the Niger Delta region and the nation at large.
A source that was part of the meeting said it was a strategic initiative designed to proffer solution economic challenges in the country by patriotic Nigerians.
“ As far as l am concerned, this meeting owes it primary motivation to the need for peace and stability in the Niger Delta. It is a meeting of patriots united by a common purpose. This is not the first meeting and it probably might not be the last. It is a strategic peace entrenchment process.
“ l strongly belief that the Niger Delta region is one and we belong to one Nigeria. What affects one person, equally affects the other. This sense of oneness is very important. That is why we must guide against greed, and self-centredness. No sacrifice is too much for the sake of peace.
“We must be genuinely concerned about the development of our region and the country generally, and the kind of development that our people have been craving cannot happen in an atmosphere of chaos. That is why this kind of meeting has to be encouraged.”