The president National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG, Comr. Collins Edema have accused political leaders of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality for allegedly responsible in the infrastructural underdevelopment of its nation and blamed them for allegedly selling out job slots to other ethic groups.
The graduates in a statement by its President, Collins Edema, said that Itsekiri leaders should be held liable for the avoidable closure of the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP Vocational and Technical Laboratories at Egbokodo in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The group also urged Itsekiri political leaders to set aside their personal interests, no matter their political divide and pursue the human capital and infrastructural development of all Itsekiri communities, Edema said: “Investigations so far carried out by NAIG revealed that of the 17 companies handling the EGTL Turn Around Maintenance, some of them are selling the job slots meant for Itsekiri indigenes to other ethnic groups.
“While some companies were in the habit of replacing Itsekiri names with non-Itsekiris, Ugbegungun, an Itsekiri community is selling their slots to persons from other ethnic group.
“Though we have confronted them and they denied the allegations, it is a shame that the only loser in this their ‘game of chess’ is the Itsekiri nation, which has continuously been put at a disadvantaged position due to poor leadership.
This has caused the Itsekiri nation serious developmental and political setback for years.” Reiterating that all oil companies particularly Chevron Nigeria Limited should deal directly with the Olu of Warri for job placements, NAIG warned those in the habit of selling job slots meant for the Itsekiri nation to other ethnic groups, to desist from such acts or face the wrath of the Itsekiri people.
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