A group, Rescue Urhobo from Marginalization (RUM), has frowned at moves by the Deputy Governor of Delta state, Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro to bypass major agitators of fair deal for the marginalized Urhobo people and negotiate with traditional rulers who were not part of the Urhobo struggle.
The group said the Deputy Governors present moves of secret meetings with some traditional rulers in Urhobo nation in the name of peace move may trigger the youths to anger.
In a communiqué signed by President of Rescue Urhobo from Marginalization (RUM), Olorogun Fidelis Oghenetega after their meeting at Afiesere in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta state, the group condemned the clandestine moves of the Delta Deputy Governor to boycott the main agitators for traditional rulers.
According to the group, “instead of meeting with those whom the Federal Government earlier appealed to cease fire for dialogue, he resorted to secret meetings with some traditional rulers who have nothing to do with realities on ground.
“There was never a monarch that signed a statement or threatened to shut down operations of the International Oil Companies but it was well known groups of individuals from the Urhobo extraction that made the threats which we believed were not for joke.
“We also frown at the idea of downgrading some ethnic groups in favour of some others. All the ethnic nations agitating for fair deal for their people are major oil producing nations in the Niger Delta, there is none amongst them that will strike which will not affect the Federal Government daily oil and gas production output.
“When you are asked to broker peace between ethnic nationalities and the federal government, you should do it with open heart devoid of selfishness to enable every ethnic group to be partakers of the dialogue and not for only your tribe”, it advised.
The group threatened that any attempt to undermine the Urhobo people in the negotiating table will be resisted with anger and physical display of their prowess to reduce daily production of oil percentage to zero in their area.
