The Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption, CHURAC, on Monday threw its weight behind the planned protest by the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom, over the alleged relocation of the floating dock/shipyard in Okerenkoko in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State to elsewhere in Lagos State by politicians.
National President of the rights group, Alaowei E. Cleric, Esq Cleric spoke in a statement signed and made available to DAILY POST.
He said, “As for Gbaramatu people’s planned protest, I am in support of it. It is a peaceful protest which is simply calling on the attention of the relevant authorities.”
The legal practitioner noted that there are so many reasons why the people should embark on this peaceful protest.
According to him, “The floating dockyard which should have been in the Kingdom has been kidnapped by power brokers in Lagos.
“They want to divert the project the way they diverted Burutu dockyard to Tincan Island in Lagos. This is highly provocative.
“Even the oil companies are not helping matters. The FG can hastily launch the Ajakuta, Kaduna, Kano Gas Project but chose to abandon the Escravos Gas Processing Zone (EPZ) project which would have benefited the Gbaramatu and the Itsekiri Kingdoms.
“These are the people who produced the gas that they want to supply the northern States. FG is again, incurring the wrath of Niger Delta people.
“Though the protest as they tagged it, is a peaceful one. However, the response of the security agencies will determine what will happen.
“I advise that the security agencies coordinate themselves well not cause an unnecessary crisis. It is their constitutional rights to peacefully protest.
“As a lawyer, if the Gbaramatu people brief me, I will explore the legal remedies for them. My advice to the people is not to take laws in their hands while they’re protesting, no matter the provocation.”
Earlier, the Gbaramatu people had protested over the relocation of the floating dock/shipyard from their domain by the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Fiyewei(Spokesman) of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekama who spoke on behalf of the Gbaramatu Traditional Council of Chiefs during a peaceful protest and press briefings in Gbaramatu said the planned Relocation of the dock/shipyard from Okerenkoko is a “massive slight” on his people.
Chief Gbenekama stressed, “This is a gross dereliction of duty by President Muhammadu Buhari Administration. ”
Chief Gbenekama who cited how they have been affected by activities of oil exploration companies and how they have been neglected and marginalized by the Federal Government issued the government four days ultimatum to shutdown all exploration activities in their land if it fails to address all challenges facing the area.
