- Calls on Buhari to withdraw troops from N/Delta
PEOPLE of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, on Tuesday, said they have been pushed to wall and may soon react against the backdrop of the military siege in their domain.
They therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw troops and houseboats from Gbaramatu Kingdom without further delay or be ready to face the consequences.
Acting secretary of the Gbaramatu Traditional Council, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, who spoke on behalf of the council and people in Warri, said the explanation of the military acting on intelligence to station houseboat at Oporoza waterfront and other parts of the kingdom is not tenable.
According to him, “If they must protect their equipment, let the military go to where their oil facilities are so that we can live in peace.”
Accusing the presence of troops in the kingdom as heating the polity, the Ibe-Benemowei of Gbaramatu averred that the elasticity of the perseverance of the people has a limit and if it snaps, it could portend danger as it almost did when women raged against troops at Okpele Ama/Tebujor when two persons were arrested last weekend.
“The Gbaramatu people are getting to the end of their perseverance elasticity.
The moment to snap is very close as was witnessed by the military when they went back to Okpele ama /Tebujor communities a third time in two days and the women rallied and met them at the water front which made them to leave the communities.
Anything would have happened.
We in the Gbaramatu Traditional Council are afraid because our plea for call seems not to be yielding any reciprocity from the military hierarchy instead they gave fire for water.
While the government has a duty to safeguard the nation’s critical assets, such must be done within the confines of the law.
A situation where military men terrorise defenceless citizens in the name of protection of oil pipeline is not acceptable.
If the military do not want to partner citizens in their efforts to protect oil facilities, we do not mind, but they should not hold the indigent people responsible,” he warned.
While playing with the natives to exercise restraint, Chief Gbenekama further pleaded with the Delta State government, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders to come to the aid of Gbaramatu people many of whom are now IDPs in their own land.