Following the rising tension among individuals and groups in the Niger Delta over the award of the pipeline surveillance contract to Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo, the Ijaw National Congress has inaugurated a five-member committee for peace talks with aggrieved parties.
Truthlive.net had reported that the Federal government awarded a multi-million dollars contract for the surveillance of pipelines to curb incessant oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
INC’s President, Prof Benjamin Okaba made this known while inaugurating the committee at Ijaw House, Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital.
The Financial Secretary of the INC, Kennedy Odiowei is to chair the committee, a former president of the Ijaw Youth Council, Oyinfie Jonjon would be secretary, Ambah Binaebi, Eneyo Athanasius and Dan Ekpebide as members of the committee.
According to Okabo, the intervention became necessary following the seeming rising tensions among various groups and persons inthe Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta over the pipeline surveillance contract.
“Recently, the INC has been buffeted with reports of brewing tensions amongst various Ijaw groups as a result of the pipeline surveillance contract.”
“We frown at such divisive tendencies and propensities. The purpose of this committee is very clear: to identify and interact with the various and divergent groups and see how their individual interests can be taken care of in the spirit of brotherliness,” he said.