By AUSTIN OGWUDA

Asaba—DELTA State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday, inaugurated a 21-man Ugborodo Peace Committee, with equal representation from the two warring factions, just as he revealed how some state governors lobbied to have the project relocated to their states due to the initial hiccups.

The committee has Mr. Augustine Oborugbeyi as Chairman, while other members, 10 from each side, were nominated by their respective groups. The committee was asked by the governor to collectively agree on who will serve as the secretary to the committee.

The governor made it clear that from the onset, the state government had put in everything to make the project become a reality.

He said: “A lot of work was done, a lot of interest came in especially for the chemical plant and the fertilizer plant and investors indicated interest from Saudi Arabia, India and other countries across the world. Unfortunately, when they came for assessment, they discovered that because of the shallow nature of our waterways, it would be difficult for big ships to come and evacuate their products.

“For us to retain the project in Koko, it required the dredging of the waterways and the cost was estimated by Nigerian Ports Authority at a minimum of $1 million. To us, the money was above what the state or even the Federal Government could afford for the project. Other interests came in that the project had to be moved completely and other states indicated interest in it. For me, through the efforts of our people, and I must acknowledge the role played by Mr. Daniel Reyienju in drawing my attention to what was happening, we worked together with Mr. President, met the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and the minister looked at the area and agreed that the project had to be moved from Koko to Ogidegben.

“That was how the project got to Ogidigben. Unfortunately, the community crisis which was on before the project was moved to Ogidigben seemed to have worsened. As a governor, I have managed many crisis. Ugborodo is a community in Delta State. We have our security council, and we have our security chiefs who I must say were in a position to handle the issue.

“My only appeal is that the peace process has to continue so that the community could be at peace and we will to get the maximum benefits from this project.”