SHUTDOWN: Delta Affirms FG Readiness to Dialogue on Oil Operations
ASABA/Nigeria: The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro said the Federal Government has put machinery in motion to go into dialogue with oil producing communities after the salah break on the reported threat to shut down of oil operations in the state.
Otuaro made this known to journalists last Thursday in Asaba after his meeting in Abuja with the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo in company of the Minister for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva to explain issues surrounding the recent agitation by oil producing host communities.
Stating that the federal government does not want the agitations of host communities to escalate to bigger problems, Otuaro said, “The federal government has acknowledged, just as we should, that constructive engagement is the way out to deal with the issues. That is what we have agreed.”
Deacon Otuaro, however, thanked the leadership of the Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko and Ndokwa ethnic nations for being patient and taking the advice of the State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to embrace dialogue offer instead.
“I want to therefore appreciate and thank the leadership of the oil bearing areas who have bought into this peace paradigm despite perceived neglect and pains.
“I assure you that in the coming days soon after Salah, we will be looking at the issues with a view to addressing them via a platform that will be created.
“Let me also appeal to all critical stakeholders, especially the oil companies not to stay aloof but to continually add value to what we are doing,” Otuaro stated.
