– As Faseun, Gani Adams Sent Different Proposals
THERE are strong indications that the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) may not be awarded
contracts for protection of pipelines in the South West.
An official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) who spoke exclusively with Sharpedgenews.com has stated the reasons why OPC will not be awarded contracts for protection of pipelines in the South West.
The official who does not want his name in print told our correspondent that the contract for protection of pipelines in the South West cannot be given to OPC because according to him, the group is still an outlawed group that government does not recognise.
“The truth is that the government does not recognise OPC as a legitimate group. OPC is still an unlawful society and that is why government cannot approve their proposals. The presidential shoot-on-sight order is still very active for all OPC members”.
He added that Niger-Delta militant leaders who were reported to have been awarded contracts for protection of pipelines in the Niger-Delta region was aftermath of the amnesty given to them by the Government.
The Source further stated that the militant leaders who were awarded contracts for protection of pipelines in Niger-Delta did not use the name of their group to secure the contracts but used documents of security firms that had registered with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and other relevant agencies.
The truth is that we have received their proposals but we cannot approve it due to the facts stated above, the source stated.
Asked if the refusal had to do with amnesty for the group, the source said that only the Presidency can speak on that.
Even if government decides to approve their proposals which of the factions will get the approval-Faseun or Adams, the source added.
The two OPC leaders in separate interviews spoke about the Group’s desire to protect pipelines in the South West if Federal Government approved their proposals.
Gani Adams, the Group National Coordinator while justifying the group’s attempt to secure crude oil pipelines in South-west, stated that since President Goodluck Jonathan awarded about N12 billion contracts to ex-Niger Delta militants; OPC also deserved its share.
The OPC leader added that securing the pipelines is an empowerment programme for its members and the group is the best qualified for the job in the South West.
“There is nothing wrong for leaders of such an organisation to apply for that because they have suffered detention and illegal arrests in the past and have been brutalized”.
Also the Founder of the Group, Dr Fredrick Faseun equally defended the Group’s desire to get the contract, saying that it is the right of the group whose members are citizens of Nigeria to aspire for such contract.
Although members of opposition have accused him of using proceeds from the contract to resuscitate the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria, a claim which he denied.
Fasehun in a recent statement debunked the claims that the federal government had awarded his group the contract, adding that the government is yet to respond to their proposal.
According to him, they have been to Abuja to defend the proposal at several interviews but government has not responded.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan doled out almost $40 million annually to four of Niger Delta’s top former warlords as protection fee for oil pipelines they used to attack in the region.
According to the report tagged Nigeria’s Former Oil Bandits Now Collect Government Cash, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pays the warlords a total of $39.5 million annually.
The payment includes the contract awarded to former warlord Government Tompolo Ekpumopolo to protect oil pipelines by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Dokubo Asari who confirmed receiving $9 million a year to pay his 4,000 foot soldiers to guard oil pipelines.
Two other former warlords, Gen Ebikabowei Boyloaf Victor Ben and Gen Ateke Tom, get $3.8 million each under the arrangement.