Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday, said members of the New Delta Avengers threatening to resume attacks on oil installations may not be from the state.
The group declared war on the Federal Government of Nigeria and oil companies in the region last week and vowed to resume bloody attacks on oil industries in Delta State effective June 30, 2017.
It said: “From the oil producing part of Delta State, we have converged and agreed to resume attacks on oil facilities, resurrect the spirit of insurgency and made a demand for a better deal for our people, and by extension, our beloved Delta state. We will do this through bloody attacks, crippling oil industry in Delta State.
“We watch the activities, policies of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration in these past two years, and we have found that, like the biblical Pharaoh, only extraordinary action will soften his hardened heart towards the oil producing areas of the state. While developments are going on in Rivers and other states, oil communities in Delta have been stagnant.”
Reacting, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Charles Aniagwu, told newsmen in Asaba, that Governor Okowa was committed to the development of oil bearing communities and all other parts of Delta State.
Aniagwu said the governor paid attention to all the local governments, federal constituencies, senatorial districts in the state in political appointments and siting of projects.
The CPS added that it was not true that the governor was funding a particular group to the detriment of others.
He noted that Okowa came into office at a time when the price of oil was at its lowest which affected finances and denied he was funding a particular group to the detriment of others.
Aniagwu said: “If indeed this new group is desirous of having government to develop the creeks, if it is desirous of having us live in peace, if it is desirous of having us protect the wellbeing of our brothers and sisters who live in these oil bearing communities.
“They cannot be talking about bloodbath because, bloodbath will affect most likely those who live in that environment much more than anyone else and so, you cannot begin to raise arms against those that you claim to protect.
“If indeed their desire is for the development of the creeks, we cannot take actions that is capable of further polluting the creeks; if indeed their actions is to bring prosperity to the people of the oil bearing communities, you cannot go and destroy the infrastructure that will bring dividends of democracy to our brothers and sisters who live in these areas.”
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