Oil will never dry up in Niger Delta – Former minister blasts Osinbajo

Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, the former minister of state for education has lambasted Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, saying that oil and gas will last for another hundred years in the Niger Delta.

During his visit, Osinbajo had made some statements which Gbagi described as political statements without foundation.

Osinbajo had said that in no distant future, the country would be in grave danger if it continues to rely on oil as the product would soon dry up, said that at least 97 percent of the nation’s economy today is rested and shoulder heavy on oil and gas.

Gbagi while speaking with journalists on Monday, January 16 in Abuja, described Osinbajo’s visit as fruitless and meaningless.

According to Vanguard, the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, said that the federal government had taken the people of Urhobo for granted by not visiting the area which is the hob of gas production.

His Majesty also added that it was against the grain of reason for the Vice President to visit other ethnic strongholds without stopping over at Ughelli, the political headquarters of the Urhobo nation.

Gbagi also said that the visit was not beneficial to the people because no political statement was made that was geared towards having lasting peace in the zone.

Gbagi said: “While we are looking for peace, the sensibility of Urhobo people should not be taken for granted, the Urhobo people have been taken for granted for too long in the scheme of things.

“A similar situation happened in 1971 when Gowon was to visit Midwest which is now Delta, the Secretary then was an Iteskiri man and they crafted a similar visit to exclude the Urhobo nation, it is on record that Urhobos hold the bedrock of gas company, Otorobo that is the major source of electricity in Nigeria today talk less of all the oil wells, pipelines across the entire Urhobo nation.

“Urhobos being the 4th largest nationality in Nigeria have been for sometimes now neglected and relegated to the background because of their peaceful nature.

“While it appears that trouble makers, violent and gun tooting get greater reward in Nigeria, the school of violence, agitations does not belong to any ethnic group.

“I see the visit of the Vice President as irresponsibly put together as it is not in the interest of the much desired peace, I congratulate the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom and all those who walked out from that gathering of shame.

“I am reliably informed that the programme which originally was to see the Vice President’s visit to Gbaramatu, the Olu of Warri and the visit to Ughelli where the oldest traditional ruler, the Owhorode of Olomu who is 100 years resides to host all the traditional rulers in conjunction with a meeting with the Vice President was truncated by the governor of the State and the deputy.

“We should root for genuine peace to support the good initiative of Mr president and stop playing lip service or waste the economic base of Nigeria.

“Quoting the Vice President, at least 97% of the economy today is rested and shoulder heavy on oil and gas, his claim that oil will soon finish or dry up is a political statement without foundation, the gas situated on Otolobo at least will last for another 100 years.”

Meanwhile, Professor Yemi Osinbajo paid a visit to Oporoza community, the headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta state as a way to find peace in the troubled Niger Delta region.

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