LAGOS JUNE 10TH (URHOBOTODAY). A group, the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS), on Sunday, issued a three-month ultimatum to cause a blockade of oil exploration in the Niger Delta if the National Assembly does not pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law.
“Unless the PIB becomes law within the next three months, the Federal Government and other oil and gas exploiters would be denied access to these natural resources that have further impoverished the people of the region,” the group warned.
The group, an umbrella body for all Niger-Delta organisations, gave the position in a statement issued by its general- secretary, Mr Tony I. Uranta, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune.
The group also called on the Federal Government “to motivate the holding of regional mini-dialogues this year, and to convene a national dialogue within the first Quarter of 2014.”
This is as it warned that General Muhammed Buhari and other political leaders should not be allowed to get away with statements that could trigger social dislocations in the country.
“Anybody who thinks this is an idle joke is welcome to dare fate. Three months is just 90 days from now. Soon, we shall know who really owns what in this nation-state! Let’s wait and see if the NASS is intent on joining Buhari and company to break up Nigeria,” Uranta warned in the statement.
The group, according to Uranta, arrived at the conclusion during an emergency meeting it held in Warri, Delta State and attended by key leaders of the group.
While condemning what it termed “irrational focus on petty in-fighting among state governors, concerning the crisis in their forum, the group warned that it was poised to commence non-violent acts of sustained civil disobedience actions, from July.