The immediate past governor of Delta State said he would sponsor a bill that would ensure five per cent community ownership of oil and gas companies operating in the Niger Delta region if elected as Senator.
Uduaghan gave the assurances as the Special Guest Honour at the maiden edition of Isoko Youth Summit organised by the Isoko National Youth Association (INYA) led by its National President, Mr Ovie Umuakpo at the Civic Centre in Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area of the state.
The former governor in a statement issued by his Media Assistant, Monoyo Edon, on Tuesday, said he would actively involve youths in his efforts to partner the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to bring a lasting peace to the region.
Speaking on the theme: “Retooling the Isoko Youth for Good Governance and Political Participation,” Uduaghan averred that youths in the region should embrace a non-violent and sophisticated tactic in resolving the age-long suffering of the area.
“Yes, the oil companies might be in your backyard, but if you’re unemployable, you leave them no choice, but to hire competent hands from other areas.
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“But when you are skilled, even the government would join in your cause because no father wants his son to suffer in the midst of plenty.
“Our youth must strive to be peaceful and united in their agitation. Peace gives birth to good children any day. By God’s grace, when the people of Delta South give me their senatorial mandate in the next election, I will largely involve our youths in the security of our communities as well as oil installations therein.
“It would be a win-win for our youths who would be paid for securing a peaceful business environment for investors and companies to operate optimally.
“This will run concurrently with the five per cent community ownership of industries that I am proposing in our area.
“As a crisis manager, I know that once communities have a sense of ownership in the operations of companies, they will protect their facilities jealously,” the Delta South Senatorial hopeful under the All Progressives Congress (APC) noted.
Uduaghan observed that Niger Delta youth leaders were becoming articulate and active contributors to nation-building.
He added that going forward, youth leaders in the region must enthrone education and self-development in their activities if they wished to be involved in the “engine room of governance.”
According to him, “the dynamics has tilted away from ‘deve’ and violent arm-twisting of government or oil firms so as to get humongous compensations and contracts to service expensive lifestyles.
“More educated Niger Delta youths should be at the helms of youth groups as their knowledge come very handy in partnership with developmental initiatives for the economic enhancement of their area.
“Our youths must also acquire requisite skills that would make them employable by oil and gas companies operating in our communities,” Uduaghan admonished.
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