President Goodluck Jonathan has warned Itsekiri elders, community leaders and parties in Ogidigben, the Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state to stop what he called their “uncharitable and unwarranted” accusations of nepotism and partisanship which they have leveled against him in the wake of the postponement of the ground-breaking ceremony for the Gas Revolution Industrial Park in the area.
In a statement today, issued by the special adviser on media and publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan noted with regret, the unnecessary controversy and acrimony that have arisen over the postponement of the ground-breaking ceremony.
President Jonathan expressed his deep sadness over what he called “the very unjust, uncharitable and unwarranted accusations of nepotism and partisanship that have been made against him in the wake of the postponement.”
The President said that he was particularly dismayed by the unseemly resort to the abusive denigration of his personal integrity and the whipping up of divisive ethnic sentiments by parties to the totally needless communal disagreement that resulted in the decision to reschedule the ground-breaking event.
“It should be apparent to all Nigerians by now that while I, as the President may be affiliated to the Ijaw ethnic group by birth, I know fully well that I was elected President of all Nigerians and have always shown by word and deed that I will always uphold the oath I swore on assumption of office to protect and promote the interests of all citizens with justice, equity and fairness to all as I guiding principles.
He said that the elders, community leaders and parties to the dispute over the location and ground-breaking event for the Gas Industrial Revolution Park who have resorted to threats and accusations of partisanship against him in press conferences and paid adverts in newspapers are being most unfair to him and doing a great disservice to continuing efforts to forge greater national unity and peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians.
“We assure all concerned persons that as the leader of the nation, President Jonathan is not, and cannot be on the side of any party to the avoidable dispute over the location and ownership of the site of the Gas Revolution Industrial Park.
“The project itself was conceived for the benefit of all Nigerians, not just Itsekiris, Ijaws, Urhobos or other ethnic groups in its immediate environment.
“In terms of employment opportunities, it is projected that the Gas Industrial Revolution Park will ultimately create up to three million jobs for Nigerians in its catchment area and other parts of the country.
“All the people of Delta State and Nigerians living in other parts of the country will also benefit greatly from the project by way of improved power supply and other ancillary products such as fertilizers, petrochemicals and more raw materials to boost local industrial production.”
President Jonathan therefore urges all parties to the communal dispute over the location and ownership of the site of the Gas Industrial Revolution Park to cooperate fully with ongoing efforts by the Federal and the Delta state governments to peacefully resolve all outstanding issues so that the project can proceed apace for the benefit of local communities, all Nigerians and investors.
“For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, the postponement of the ground-breaking ceremony for the project earlier scheduled for last Friday was not in furtherance of any anti-Itsekiri agenda.
“Rather, it was borne out of the clear need to give all concerned parties more time to achieve the communal peace, understanding and harmony that will greatly facilitate the project’s speedy actualization for the benefit of Itsekiris, Ijaws, Urhobos, Ibos, Isokos and all other Nigerians.
President Jonathan asked the elders and leaders of the concerned communities to heed the pleas of Federal and state government mediators and expeditiously resolve their differences for the good of all and the progress of the country.
He made it clear that he would perform the ground-breaking ceremony for the Gas Industrial Revolution Park very soon, but that it would be in conditions of communal peace, unity and harmony. [myad]
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