PENGASSAN, NUPENG Accuse FG Of Complicity

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in Lagos on Tuesday condemned the taking of nine hostages but noted that the tactics seem to be a money-spinner for government officials.

They said: �We consider that governments at various levels are not sincere in their war against hostage taking as it now appears to be a lucrative business and providing a means of spending money without proper accountability.

�We recall that the government told a bewildered nation that it did not spend money for the release of the workers held previously but a lot has been spent on logistics which may not disclose beneficiaries of such huge amount.

�It is equally irritating that Jonathan Goodluck, the Governor of Bayelsa State, was quoted as saying that �we know the friends of the hostage takers� who the government will discuss with to secure their release. This, in our view, is a conspiracy of the highest order�.

The unions came down hard on the government for failing to provide security for oil workers just as they criticised it for not doing enough to empower youths in the Niger Delta.

The militants have sought the intervention of the United Nations (UN) in their conflict with the Federal Government because Abuja is �not sincere� in its handling of the socio-economic problems of the region.

They made a fresh nine-point demand on Britain to revalidate all treaties signed between it and �the city states of the Ijaw�, insisted on the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) and the release of former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF).

Director of Administration and Publicity of the Niger Delta Peoples� Salvation Front (NDPSF), the political arm of the militants, Mark Olise, stated in Port Harcourt on Tuesday that the current armed attack will continue.

�The Federal Government has been playing politics with the demand of the peoples of the Niger Delta for justice. We, therefore, demand the intervention of the UN and a halt of the move to amend the Constitution�, he said.

Leader and Spokesperson of the Martyrs Brigade, Cynthia Whyte, argued that the UN should set up a tribunal to try those who �committed genocide� in Ogoni, Umuechem, Ogbia, Opia, Ikenyan, Odi and Odioma.

The United States has also called for the unconditional release of the three abducted Americans, saying it is working with the Nigerian Government to secure their freedom.

Giving assurance, Michael Collier, Vice President of Investor Relations for Willbros (employers of the hostages) said: “We have a crisis management team already in action”. The company is gathering information and could not discuss details, he added.

Willbros said later it has no plans to move any of its 3,000 employees out of Nigeria.

In Abuja, President Olusegun Obasanjo expressed concern about the safety of the hostages but said he is hopeful they would be released very soon.

Presidential Spokesperson, Oluremi Oyo, said security reports showed that the hostages are alive and well.