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Ondo Niger Delta women to Tinubu: End marginalization in Ilaje oil-producing areas
Women from the oil-rich Ilaje region of Ondo State have called on President Bola Tinubu to end what they describe as longstanding marginalization and neglect of their community despite its significant contributions to Nigeria’s oil wealth.
Under the umbrella of the Niger Delta Network for Ondo Indigenous Women, the group expressed deep frustration over the lack of development projects in their region compared to other Niger Delta communities. In a statement signed by their President, Chief (Mrs.) Otunba Funmileyi Omogbemi, and Secretary, Adetoke Owoyemi, the women decried the “grave injustices” faced by Ilaje residents.
“While other Niger Delta regions have enjoyed continuous developmental and empowerment projects, Ilaje-Ese Odo has remained at the tail end of these initiatives. This has hindered socio-economic progress while we battle environmental degradation head-on,” the statement read.
The group also accused the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), led by Dr. Dennis Otuaro, of excluding Ilaje communities from key engagements and benefits. They claimed that despite Ilaje’s crude oil production of approximately 60,000 barrels per day and an estimated 4 billion barrels in reserves, the region has received little to no attention in terms of resource allocation and economic development.
“Despite the programme’s stakeholders’ engagement across the region, Dr. Otuaro has refused to visit our oil-rich local government area, denying us the opportunity to interface with him and address our concerns. This is a clear indication of the marginalization we face,” they stated.
The group recalled that Ilaje youths were disarmed under an amnesty agreement in 2017 but have since been sidelined while their counterparts in other regions continue to receive benefits. They warned that the growing frustration among the youth could lead to heightened agitation if urgent action is not taken.
The women urged President Tinubu to:
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Ensure that the Presidential Amnesty Programme is administered fairly.
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Implement a transparent and equitable distribution of benefits across all Niger Delta regions.
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Hold Dr. Otuaro accountable for the perceived exclusion of Ilaje communities.
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End administrative favoritism and unfair allocation of resources.
“The level of marginalization faced by Ondo State in the Niger Delta region is unbearable. Our agitations grow by the day, and we want change!” the statement warned.
They called for swift intervention from the presidency, demanding a clear response on steps to address their concerns. “A timely intervention is crucial,” they concluded.
The first batch of 200 graduates from the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Center (DASAC) have refuted Governor Umo Eno’s claim that they received a monthly stipend of N20,000 during their six-month training.
The controversy erupted at the graduation ceremony held at DASAC’s base in Ikot Ada Idem, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area. As Governor Eno announced that the state had financially supported the trainees, the graduates immediately rejected the claim, loudly interjecting with shouts of “No! No! No!”
In an apparent effort to defuse the situation, the governor responded, “I’m sure some of you have started receiving your alerts already, but if you are certain you haven’t, between now and Tuesday, you will all get it. If you don’t, just send me a text.”
Officials at DASAC have yet to explain why the stipends were not disbursed as promised. Meanwhile, another set of 40 trainees who self-sponsored their participation reportedly paid N250,000 each, covering accommodation, training kits, and other expenses, excluding feeding.
The graduates received vocational training in various fields, including agriculture, hospitality and lifestyle management, metal and steel fabrication, wood technology, ICT, and general entrepreneurship.
Governor Eno assured them that some would be employed in government ministries, departments, and agencies, while others would receive starter packs and seed funding to launch their businesses. However, the stipend controversy has cast doubt on the implementation of the government’s financial commitments to the program.
The Founder and General Overseer of Shiloh Word Chapel, Prophet I.O. Samuel, has advised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to focus on his health rather than politics to avert potential misfortune.
During a recent prophetic service, Prophet Samuel cautioned Wike against overexerting himself politically. He claimed to have seen a vision where Wike was being honored in Abuja, but just before receiving the recognition, two angels arrived with a stretcher and a wheelchair.
“The FCT Minister should take things slowly,” the prophet warned.
Samuel also prophesied that the ongoing political rift between Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, would eventually be resolved.
“For now, Wike and Fubara are apart, but there is something that still binds them together. People should be careful not to take sides because, in the future, I see them reuniting and working in harmony,” he predicted.
While he did not specify whether the reconciliation would occur at the state or federal level, he cautioned against external interference.
“I see Fubara and Wike secretly coming together to discuss, and God will honor Fubara for it. But those interfering in their feud could later find themselves in trouble,” he added.
The prophecy comes as political tensions in Rivers State escalate, with both factions engaged in a prolonged power struggle.
Dr. Martins Oke, the lawmaker representing Igboetiti/Uzo Uwani Constituency in the House of Representatives, has dismissed a recall petition against him, describing it as an “academic exercise” based on false and misleading claims.
The petition, submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by four constituents—Chizoba Ugwuagbo, Clinton Ogbonna, Amah Sabinus, and Onyekachi Okenwa Stephen—accused Oke of non-performance, incompetence, and negligence.
However, in a statement issued by his media aide, Solomon Gwiyi, the lawmaker rejected the allegations, calling them “a tissue of lies, inaccurate reports, and deliberate misinformation.”
Gwiyi outlined Oke’s legislative and constituency initiatives, including:
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Sponsoring a bill to create Adada State in the Southeast.
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Advocating for federal intervention in completing the Adada River Dam.
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Addressing insecurity along Ukpata Road in Uzo Uwani.
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Organizing town hall meetings with community members.
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Distributing three trucks of fertilizer to over 500 farmers in August 2024.
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Providing 3,000 bags of rice to constituents during the December 2024 festive season.
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Operating a fully-equipped constituency office in Aku, Igboetiti LGA.
The media aide urged critics to verify these projects before spreading false narratives, emphasizing Dr. Oke’s commitment to effective representation and community development.
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