DELTA'S EPZ PROJECT CANCELLED?

EPZ PR0JECT IN JEOPARDY

“The way and manner Governor Uduaghan was handling the issues (EPZ Project) could re-ignite the Warri inter-ethnic crisis.” ~ Newton Mala May 10, 2014

“The elders, community leaders and parties to the dispute over the location and ground-breaking event for the Gas Industrial Revolution Park who have resorted to threats and accusations of partisanship against the President in press conferences and paid adverts in newspapers are therefore being most unfair to him and doing a great disservice to continuing efforts to forge greater national unity and peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians. ~ Reuben Abati Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) November 17, 2014

PREAMBLE:

It’s doubtful if we will ever overcome the “We vs Them” syndrome, it’s part of the colonial relics that we have absorbed, imbibed and has been ingrained in our consciousness so strong that generations who never witnessed colonialism exhibits the straights with as strong a fervor like those who experienced it.

Many of our work places are still very much glorified slave centers where the boss expects everyone to scamper for cover just like the colonial masters use to do, they fail to realize that “People work better when they love what they do and that staffs are more apt in working in an atmosphere of friendship than in one where they are treated as objects of production. This happens even in organizations where they purportedly pay lip service to the phrase “Our Workforce is our greatest asset”

I have tried to figure how we can get out of this quagmire and the more I think, the more am convinced it will remain with us for some time to come. For the events that led the 1966 coup, the July 1966 counter coup and the eventual civil war are very much with us till date. It was Charlotte Perkins Gilman who once said “To swallow and follow, whether old doctrine or new propaganda, is a weakness still dominating the human mind.”

CONCEPTION OF THE PROJECT:

AN Export Processing Zone (EPZ) is a type of a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) set up generally in developing countries by their governments to promote industrial and commercial exports. In addition to providing the benefits of a FTZ, these zones offer other incentives such as exemptions from certain taxes and business regulations. An export processing zone is one of many export promotion tools. Today's export processing zones have evolved from their original definition as “an industrial estate, usually a fenced-in area of 10–300 hectares that specializes in manufacturing for export.”

The enabling act for Registered Free Zones in Nigeria came into effect in 1992. The Calabar Free Trade Zone, the first of these, was fully completed by 1999 and started operation after official commissioning in November 2001. The CFTZ is owned by the Federal government. Delta State’s version is a joint venture project with the Federal Government. The project is estimated to gulp $20 Billion (about N3.12 trillion). The government seems to have faltered from the projects inception as it was first to be located in Koko the Warri North LGA Headquarters but was later relocated to Ogidigben in Warri South – West LGA.

PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE PROJECT LOCATION:

The Location of the project has created great dissatisfaction within the Host Community and its neighbors. The ugborodo community leadership tussles even led to some unfortunate deaths. Ijaw communities had been crying for long that they had been sidelined in the Conception, Planning and execution of the project even as they claim ownership of about 75% of the Land acquired for the project. We have read a report of purported MOU signed in the Past but from the look of things, it seems they have not agreed on anything. These protests had been on ground, it’s therefore a surprise that His Excellency Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan ignored their pleas and went on to invite Mr. President to come for the Ground Breaking Ceremony. raising Questions: WITHOUT THE GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY WON’T WORK ON THE PROJECT PROCEED AS PLANNED? WHAT IS LEVEL OF WORK DONE IN THE PROJECT SITE? WILL THE PROJECT BE COMPLETED IN THE LIFE OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION? IF THE PROJECT WILL NOT BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS WHY THE HASTE IN THE NEED FOR A GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY?

Recall that it was the location and relocation of this same LocalGovernment Area’s headquarters from Ogbe – Ijoh to Ogidigben that gave rise tothe crisis that engulfed Warri and placed at logger heads the once peaceful neighbors. It’s our earnest prayer that we will never return to those days.

 UDUAGHAN’S PLACE IN HISTORY:

His Excellency Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan has taken a few steps in the last couple of Months that portray him as a leader who is blinded by his ambition. First he single -handedly replaced Mr. Weyinmi Omadeli an Itsekiri candidate for the chairmanship seat of the same Warri South – West Council Area with Chief George Ekpemupolo an Ijaw Candidate, the dust is yet to settle about that substitution. Many Itsekiri's are of the Opinion that the Governor is under undue pressure that is why he is taking these actions.

There are reports of some youths from Itsekiri extraction caught with arms in the Waterways, further laying credence to the assumption that the Governor is under serious pressure from high quarters. It's in the light of the above that you can understand the anger from the Itsekiri Leadership about the cancellation of the proposed ceremony.

Its unfortunate that many do not see the antics of His Excellency as a desperate man trying to justify his nonexistent performance to ensure he gets the Senatorial Ticket. How many of those calling Mr. President Names will go to their Brothers house to have a sumptuous meal when the brother and the wife are having a shouting match, you will at best make Peace before you ask for Food. That I believe is the position of Mr. President

I do not think that His Excellency Dr. Uduaghan want to be remembered as the man who opened up old wounds and breach the peace he has invested a lot of Energy, Effort, Time and Resources to build. He should note that the world is not kind to desperate people, he should put the interest of Deltans above every other consideration and work to ensure that there is a Smooth Transition to the next Administration.

WAY FORWARD:

The federal Government as a stake holder in the project should as a matter of urgency set up a committee of eminent personalities to look into the pleas from all aggrieved parties and bring them to a round table and chart the way forward.

Security should also be beefed up in the Waterways to avoid breakdown of law and order. With the situation in some parts of the North, the least we need is any sort of crisis in the Niger Delta.

Leaders on both sides should avoid using provocative and inciting words, the project as many have acknowledged will be of great benefit not only to the host communities and their neighbors, but the whole Country, why should such a project attract acrimony and needless bad blood?