By Emma Amaize

WARRI—ELDER statesman and chairman, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILoT, Warri, Delta State, Pa J.O. Ayomike, weekend, counseled natives of Ugborodo community, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, to refrain from making unguarded comments concerning the $16 billion Export Processing Zone, EPZ project in Ogidigben, Ugborodo.

There had been no love lost between the Itsekiri and Ijaw ethnic groups in the area since the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC sponsored project took off, but some concerned leaders brokered the peace that enabled former President Goodluck Jonathan to perform the groundbreaking ceremony in March.

Ayomike from Ugborodo, who is at the centre of the on-going reconciliation to bring lasting peace to the community, said he personally avoided making comment on the project all these months in the interest of peace.

“This silence has to be broken at last in the interest of the community regarding the NNPC-driven EPZ project in Ogidigben-Ajudaibo in Ugborodo community. The controversy trailing the project siting had long ended and work is progressing as programmed. Therefore, recent comments and press interviews on the project, not authorized by the chairman of the EPZ Interface Committee, should be completely ignored by the public.

“Until early this year when former President Jonathan turned the sod on the site, negative reports/comments often appeared on the site controversy. A reconciliation process at whiche centre I am working round the clock to achieve full peace in Ugborodo is nearing conclusion.

“Therefore, nob one of Ugborodo – no matter his personal feelings – is permitted to comment outside the chairman of the EPZ Interface Committee on the proposed Gbaramatu Seaport Project, an arm of the Escravos Development programme promoted by the Nigeria Port Authority, for which land is yet to be acquired.

“In making this statement, full consultations have been made with all peace-loving people of Ugborodo community who are anxiously inviting our new governor to visit the biggest project-to-be in his state, in preparing the ground for the visit of Mr. President.

“All prospective investors are called upon to take advantage of the new re-structuring in NNPC to come over to the new Macedonia to help in our development,” he added.