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Ethnic Groups in Warri Ready to Sustain Peace If... - Clark

Vanguard (Lagos)
NEWS
September 2, 2004
Posted to the web September 2, 2004

By Osaro Okhomina
Warri
IJAW leader, Chief Edwin Clark, said yesterday that the three ethnic groups of
Itsekiri, Urhobo and Ijaw were ready to sustain the existing peace in Warri
area if the necessary ingredients for growth, development and equity among the
communities are put in place by government and oil companies in the area.
According to him, though people of the three ethnic groups may have in the past
been hostile to one another, they are ready to maintain peace and protect oil
and gas investments in their areas to encourage development and growth in the
state.
Chief Clark who made this known during a call on him yesterday by the outgoing
British Political Adviser to Nigeria, Mr Collin Wells and his successor, Mr
Alsdair Walker at his country home, Ekiagbodo, said the three groups have
resolved to protect the oil and gas investments in the Niger-Delta.
He said: "we want you to be assured that the prevailing peace in Warri would be
sustained. The three ethnic groups are tired of hostilities and we all desire
development in our areas. We are assuring you that your investments would be
protected by the ethnic tribes. The Ijaw will ensure the protection of the
British investment in the state.
Our people will protect the investments in the region because by so doing, we
will reap. If they do not have investment in the region, we would not have had
the jobs we have.
"The oil companies had nothing to do with the crisis, as such we will now come
together and gaurantee the investments of the British and other nations. They
should even encourage others to come to Delta State. Warri will be a better
place for the oil companies, all we are saying is that the British government
should not only come to explore the oil but should ensure that there is
appreciable development in the area."

   

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