Tension is brewing in some parts of Warri, the commercial hub of Delta State, as one of the ethnic groups, the Itsekiri nation, has threatened to shut down all oil and gas installations in their domain in protest of what they called a ‘compromised final report’ on the ward delineation exercise.

This comes on the heels of reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has perfected plans to release the final report on the controversial ward delineation exercise conducted in Warri Federal Constituency.

The development, If not averted beforehand, may likely breach the peace in the area and cause a fresh economic crisis in the oil and gas sector, as a pro-Itsekiri pressure group, on Wednesday, July 2, warned of the impending danger.

The group, Iwere Indigenous Peoples’ Movement (IIPM), in a communiqué after an emergency meeting held in Warri, Delta State, on Wednesday, July 2, warned that Nigeria’s oil sector would bleed as from Friday, July 4, if nothing urgent is done to avert the plot by the Itsekiri nation to totally shut down critical oil and gas facilities in Warri Federal Constituency, parts of Delta Central, and Edo State.

The communiqué alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), backed by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, had concluded plans to release a “compromised final report of ward and unit delineation in Warri Federal Constituency” despite the “legitimate, historical, statistical, and scientifically verified documents submitted to INEC and the Office of the National Security Adviser, after the release of the obnoxious delineation report earlier presented to stakeholders in Asaba, Delta State.”

In the communiqué, which was signed by Messrs Emiko Oghomienor, Ofoyeju Izuagie, Appearance Afejuku, Samuel Meyiwa Khalil, Ejeh Wilson, and David Mamah, the IIPM hinted that arrangements have been concluded to totally shut down all oil and gas facilities, including tank farms, export terminals, flow stations, depots, operational offices of International Oil and Gas Companies (IOCs), as well as seaports in Itsekiri homelands from 12 midnight on Friday, July 4.

It further reads: “Since the Federal and Delta State governments have decided to disregard the Itsekiri people, known for respecting the rule of law, maintaining peace and security, we are left with no other option than to toe the path the government prefers.

“Treating our collective resolve with levity would have grave consequences for the socio-economic life of the country. We will not allow any jot of our homeland to be forcefully and illegitimately given to our customary tenants under the pretext of ward and unit delineation.

“The about-to-be-released INEC final delineation report for Warri Federal Constituency makes a mockery of INEC’s guidelines, rubbishes court judgements on ownership of lands in Warri Federal Constituency, and portrays Nigeria as a lawless state.” (Daily Sun)