By Tare Youdeowei

The Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, NDIMRC, has defended the National Petroleum Investment Management Services Service, NAPIMS, over allegation of marginalization of the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje coastal Communities.

The Concerned Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje coastal communities in an open letter to President Mohammadu Buhari , had accused NAPIMS and Chevron Nigeria Limited of marginalization and urged the President to intervene to avoid chaos in the riverine communities.

But NDIMRC, in a statement signed by it’s President, Nelly Emma, Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer( PRO), Stanley Mukoro, rose in defence of NAPIMS, a subsidiary of NNPC.

According to the group, the accusation should be directed only to Chevron Nigeria Limited.

The oil monitoring group’s statement reads: Our attention has been drawn to an open letter to President Mohammadu Buhari by Concerned Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje coastal communities on marginalization by NAPIMS and Chevron Nigeria limited: “An imminent invitation to chaos” and we hereby exonerate NAPIMS from the accusation.

“We are not here to hold brief for NAPIMS, but if the truth must be told, there is nothing like “Cabals” in NAPIMS out to marginalize the people. We should not blame NAPIMS, rather we should blame Chevron for the marginalization of the people in our riverine communities of Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje, the group said.

It also stated that; “NAPIMS to the best of our knowledge has been supporting our local contractors and the neglected people of the Niger Delta region. The manipulation of contracts and the marginalization of our people are being carried out by Chevron. Chevron has been frustrating qualified contractors and capable hands that are supposed to be employed in their area of operations, but this has not been, the group wrote.

Pere: Ijaw leader congratulates monarch

Ijaw leader, Chief Beck Hitler, has congratulated His Royal Majesty, Williams N.S Ogoba, Oboro Gbaruan 111, the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom, on his successful and peaceful coronation by the kingmakers on Tuesday at Oporoza, in Warri South West local government area of Delta State.

Hitler, a chief from Gbaramatu, in a statement yesterday in Warri, Delta State, also enjoined the people of Gbaramatu kingdom to remain united and live in peace, just as he expressed gratitude to God for giving Gbaramatu people a new king, who is bestowed with wisdom to rule efficiently and effectively.

“ God in His wisdom has given the people of Gbaramatu a new king, who is a symbol of peace, love and unity among the people of Gbaramatu, no doubt his reign will attract development to the kingdom”.

Hitler however, noted that a king would rule well when his subjects gives him the needed supports and cooperation, adding that “ I am optimistic the new Gbaramatu monarch was God sent and therefore, the monarch should be supported by all sons and daughters of the kingdo