Coordinators of Tantita and Urhobo communities leaders at the press conference held in Ughelli
* Reject call for termination of contract
By John Egie
Contrary to calls by leaders of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, on the Federal Government to terminate the $144million running contract of oil pipeline surveillance awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited in the Niger Delta, Coordinators and President Generals of Urhobo communities have unanimously passed a confidence vote on the management of the security firm for it’s transparency, dedication and sincerity in carrying significant number of youths in Urhobo land along in engagement and expression of sense of belonging in benefiting from the largesse of the contract.
The confidence vote was given yesterday during a press conference held in Ughelli and attended by over 2000 employees of Tantita, coordinators and leaders of communities across Urhobo land.
The attendees attested that Tantita Security Services has engaged more Urhobo youths in pipeline surveillance contract than any other contractor in the Niger Delta in general and Urhobo land in particular has ever done .
The UPU in a petition had complained of marginalization in engagement of Urhobo youths in the execution of the contract.
But attendees of the press conference said that over 3,500 Urhobo youths are currently being employed by Tantita from 88 communities in 16 Kingdoms of Urhobo land.
“As of today, Tantita employes over 3,500 Urhobo indigene covering 88 Urhobo Communities in 16 Urhobo Kingdoms, making Tantita the highest employer of labour in Urhobo land.
“Anyone familiar with Tantita’s operations knows that all oil-bearing communities participate directly in securing facilities within their territories.
“In Ijaw land, they provide the bulk of patrol teams; the same is true of the Itsekiri, Isoko, Kwale and most certainly Urhobo-communities.
“Almost 4,000 Urhobo indigenes earn a monthly wage as Tantita operatives and coordinators. From Iwhremeragha to Unenurhie, from Kokori to Oguname-Olomu, from Ovwiamuge-Agbarho to Ugbomro, from Mosogar to Ibada-Elume to Arhavwarhien, Tantita is on the ground through Urhobo indigenes. These communities amongst many others are protecting the nation’s national assets in collaboration with Tantita.
“Every single kilometre of pipeline traversing Urhobo land is protected by Urhobo indigenes 100%. Every community in Urhobo land has been given slots as operatives and coordinators and are responsible for the safekeeping of the pipelines in their domains.
“For over two years now Tantita’s Urhobo coordinators and operatives have worked hard to reduce vandalism, oil theft, illegal refining, and environmental degradation to the barest minimum. No one, not a single community, has complained about their performance.
“Tantita with her state of the art technological capacity and extraordinary managerial skills has managed to make the work look effortless therefore every ignorant person thinks I can do it just as well!
They called on Nigerians not to be misled by false information based on assumed interest of ethnic and socio-cultural organizations and disregard any of such being peddled and at their disposal.
The attendees questioned the authenticity of claim that the general assembly of UPU rejected Tantita’s operations in Urhobo land and called on the petitioners to make the minutes, notice and venue where the meeting was held available to the public.
“This form of entrepreneurship runs contrary to the tenets of the UPU and all Urhobos must rise against this debasement of their values as we will continue to uphold the values of the UPU Constitution to foster the spirit of love, mutual understanding and brotherhood among Urhobo people, good neighborliness with non- Urhobo people, and Nigeria in general.”
Speaking on behalf of President Generals of Urhobo communities, the President General of Evwreni Community, Chief Ukpebitere cautioned that; “No one should bring division between the Urhobo Nation and Tanttita Security Services Limited for personal greed and interest”.
He called on all Urhobo indigenes to ignore such publications and continue to work harmoniously with Tanttita management.
Among those mentioned in the confidence vote were:
High Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, Kestin Pondi, Dr Paul Bebenimibo, and Tantita Security Services.
The motion for the vote of confidence was moved by the national President of Urhobo Youth Council, Mr Godspower Enerho and it was unanimously adopted through a voice vote.
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