By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
Five coastal Local Councils in Akwa Ibom state are seeking for the engagement of ex-militants against sea pirates and other violent criminal elements.
The Local Councils include Oron, Udung Uko, Mbo, Okobo and Urue-Offong Oruko.
The President-General of Oro Union, Sir Essang Bassey in a press conference yesterday lamented the menace of sea pirates in Oro Nation.
Bassey appealed to the state and Federal governments to allow ex-militants support governnment security agencies in combating sea pirates in Oro Nation.
“Just like the Federal Government engaged Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tantita Firm, to police the waterways of Niger Delta against pipeline vandals and oil thieves on high seas, the same should be done in Akwa Ibom state.
“I recall that ex-militants from the state particularly the ones from Oron Federal Constituency approached me and suggested that they should be allowed to combat the menace of sea pirates in our waters.
“I think the state government can use them to protect our maritime corridor from these criminals who have made life unbearable for us.
“If this is not done, the blue economy potentials will remain a mirage. Therefore, we are appealing to the Federal and state governments to think towards this.” The PG said.
The President-General of Oro Union also decried the marginalization of the Oro by successive administrations in state.
“Successive administrations in the state have robbed Oro people of development over the years in terms of strategic infrastructure and key projects, especially the major Uyo – Nsit Atai road travesing into Oro.” He said.
Such politics of exclusion, he noted, could be seen in failure of both the state and Federal Governments to effectively implement the Ibaka Deep Seaport project, whose original status and nomenclature had been altered to become Ibom Deep Seaport.
