By Osagie Otabor, Akure, Bassey Anthony, Uyo and Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has accused the Federal Government of double standard in granting permission for the use of arms among some sections of Nigerians to address worsening insecurity in the land.

The governor faulted the Federal Government for awarding a pipeline protection contract to a private organisation linked to former Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo).

He noted that the engagement of private organisations to handle serious security challenges reinforced the belief that the nation’s defence architecture needs an urgent overhaul.

In a statement he personally signed, Akeredolu said: “The news concerning the purported award of pipeline contracts to some individuals and private organisations by the Federal Government has been unsettling. More disquieting is the barely disguised hostility displayed against either the idea or the actual establishment of security outfits by some state governments to fill the widening gaps in the scope of security coverage noticeable nationally.

“All attempts to persuade the Federal Government to look, critically, into the current security architecture have been rebuffed, despite the manifest fundamental defects engendered by over-centralisation.

“The award of contract to private organisations to protect vandalisation of pipelines raises fundamental questions on the sincerity of the advisers of the government on security issues. The open and seeming enthusiastic embrace of this oddity, despite the constant and consistent avowal of the readiness by the security agencies, in particular the Navy, to contain the pervasive and deepening crises of breaches and threats to lives and property, attracts the charge of insincerity bordering, deplorably, on dubiety.

Read Also: NNPC: pipelines protection contract not awarded directly to Tompolo

“If state governments, which are keenly desirous of protecting their citizens, establish ancillary security outfits and there has been pronounced reluctance, if not outright refusal, to consider permitting them to bear arms for the sole purpose of defence, granting private individuals and or organisations unfettered access to assault weapons suggests, curiously, deep-seated suspicion and distrust between the Federal Government and the presumed federating units.

“The Federal Government cannot be seen to be playing the ostrich in this regard.”

Also, there was a protest yesterday in Delta State over the exclusion of Isoko indigenes from pipeline surveillance contract in the area.

A combined security team, comprising men of the 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army at Asaba, the Delta State capital, and policemen forestalled the protest from degenerating into violence.

The Nation gathered that the protesters, mainly women and youths, blocked the busy Ughelli-Asaba Expressway in the morning.

The protesters urged the Federal Government to include them in the contract.

The protesters caused a traffic gridlock that stretched some kilometres on the highway.

They carried fresh leaves and placards with different inscriptions showing their anger at their exclusion from the pipeline contract.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “It got to a point when the peaceful protest was getting rowdy and the protesters were beginning to get out of control. Hoodlums were seen to have infiltrated their midst and attempted to hijack the protest and cause mayhem.

“It was at this point, around 11.30 a.m, that security operatives, led by 63 Brigade Officer in Charge of Defence Company at Kwale, Major S. O. Ibitoye, led the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Ozoro and other security agents to address the protesters and pleaded with them to vacate the highway.”

The appeal eventually paid off as the protesters left the road around 3 p.m.

Also, youths of Ibeno in Akwa Ibom have warned Tompolo and other former militants not to enter their territory in the name of protecting pipelines.

In a joint statement by the association’s Coordinator, Itam Nathaniel Ikotinye; its Chairman, Christopher Enyina Akpan; and seven others, the Ibeno youths said: “We find it difficult to accept any intrusion or external aggression by way of adopting any named group as a sole contractor for the protection of oil and gas pipelines in the Niger Delta to the exclusion of Ibeno host community in Akwa Ibom State.

“Ibeno records the highest production of oil and gas in Nigeria, especially as this action is a negation of the provisions of the Local Content Act and other relevant oil and gas laws in Nigeria.

“We strongly view this action as an incident of marginalisation and a conscious attempt by some groups to destabilise the Ibeno Oil and Gas host community of Akwa Ibom State who has suffered gas flaring and oil spillages for years now.

“We are demanding the inclusion of Ibeno Oil and Gas community in the protection of oil and gas facilities passing through our communities.

“We shall resist any attempt by any militant or former militant groups, or whatever name they might be called, to parade themselves as members of Ibeno Oil and Gas community just for the purpose of grabbing the contract of oil and pipeline protection to the detriment of Ibeno people who are suffering environmental degradation.”