President
Goodluck Jonathan, has on Monday, said his decision to postpone the
ground-breaking ceremony for the multi-billion Naira Gas industrial Park was
not ‘in furtherance of any anti-Itsekiri agenda but to allow for an amicable
resolution of the dispute over the location of the park.
The planned
ground-breaking ceremony of the proposed Industrial Gas Park was postponed by
the president following threat by the Ijaw community over the location of the
park which did not go down well with the Itsekiri community, who accused the President
of supporting his Ijaw kinsmen.
While
addressing state House Correspondents, the Special Adviser to the President on
Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati said though the president is affiliated to
the Ijaw ethnic group by birth, “he was elected president of all Nigerians and
has always shown by word and deed that he will always uphold the oath he swore
on assumption of office to protect and promote the interests of all citizens
with Justice, equity and fairness”.
Abati further said that, “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 actualisation for the benefit of the Itsekiris,
Ijaws, Urhobos, Ibos, Isokos and other Nigerians” he said.
President
Jonathan noted that the “elders, community leaders and parties to the dispute
over the location and ground breaking event for the gas Industrial park who
have resorted to threats and accusations of partisanship against the president
in press conferences and paid adverts in newspapers are therefore being most
unfair to him and doing a great disservice to continuing efforts to forge
greater national unity and peaceful coexistence”.
The
statement further reads:
“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.
“President
Jonathan therefore urges all parties to the communal dispute over the location
and ownership of the site oif the Gas Industrial Revolution Park to cooperate
fully with ongoing efforts by the federal government and Delta state government
to peacefully resolve all outstanding issues so that the project can proceed
apace for the benefit of local communities, all Nigerians and investors.
“In the greater
interest of the nation, President
Jonathan expects the respected 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”
the president added.
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