Coalition writes Tinubu, seeks intervention over oil spills in Itsekiri communities

The Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC), a coalition of 130 civil societies and community-based groups, has asked President Bola Tinubu to address the injustice and environmental degradation faced by Itsekiri oil-producing communities.

NHRC conveyed its plight in a letter to Tinubu on Wednesday, signed by Abiola Adeleke, the group’s secretary; Taiwo Adeleye, its director of publicity; Yao Abdullahi, the northern coordinator; and Steven Ekong, the Niger Delta coordinator.

According to the coalition, Itsekiri oil-producing communities in Delta and Edo states are “marginalised”.

The group said the environment of Itsekiri communities has been devastated due to years of oil exploration and a lack of environmental impact assessment (EIA), adding that the people have been subjected to deprivation for many decades.

NHRC called on Tinubu to listen to the outcry of the community and compensate them for enduring the hardship without resorting to violence or armed conflict.

‘FG, OIL COMPANIES MARGINALISING ITSEKIRI’

NHRC said the marginalisation of Itsekiri is done by the federal government and the private oil companies operating in the Niger Delta.

“The Federal Government’s presence in Itsekiri land is almost nil. The Federal Government boycotts Itsekiri when it comes to Federal appointments including into the smallest unit of government institutions,” the group said.

The coalition said it was time for Tinubu to appoint an Itsekiri indigene to a leadership position to compensate for the injustice to the people.

“This oppression has been going on for over 50 years. At the political level, as we speak, Itsekiri has no Federal Minister. Itsekiri has no Senator,” NHRC said.

“No Itsekiri person was appointed into any strategic position during the eight years of former President Mohammadu Buhari and none has been appointed by current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

The coalition said though Itsekiri indigenes are well-educated and hardworking, whenever they make it to the top, they are exempted and prevented from taking the desired leadership “by people from other ethnic groups”.

While expressing confidence that Tinubu will listen to their plight and allow reason and justice to prevail, the group said some ethnic groups have taken to violent armed agitation, but Itsekiri have continued to adopt peaceful means yet “the Nigerian Government seems not to respect democratic culture”.

Expressing confidence that Tinubu will listen to their plight and allow reason and justice to prevail, the coalition said some ethnic groups have taken to violent armed agitation, but Itsekiri have continued to adopt peaceful means.

However, NHRC said despite their peaceful approach, “the Nigerian Government seems not to respect democratic culture”.

The group said it would protest to the United Nations (UN), the national assembly, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) if nothing is done to fix the problem.