By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
As the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Imo state is making preparations for the mass burial of the victims of the recent illegal refinery fire explosion in Abaezi in the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area, the cause of the human disaster has been traced to the absence of justice, inclusiveness and equity in Nigeria.
Barrister Ledum Mitee, President of Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has said the absence of justice, inclusiveness equity breeds agitations, crime and deaths of the citizens.
Speaking on African Independent Television (AIT) breakfast programme Kakaaki monitored in Abuja on Tuesday, Mitee posited that systematic deprivation of the youths in Nigeria by the political class especially the ruling few have led to lack of development in the country and youth restiveness.
Said he: “In as much as I sympathise with the victims of the recent illegal refinery fire explosions in Imo state, I will say that was avoidable if the right things are done. But what will the youths who have been deprived by the ruling class do”.
“This illegal refinery business is not only found in Imo state but across the Niger Delta region. Bursting if pipelines in the creeks and other illegal activities of the youths are as a result of them not been gainfully employed. So without job the youths are bound to help themselves with its attendant agitations across the land”.
Mitee also argued that the illegal activities of the youths are not restricted to the Niger Delta region but across Nigeria especially places that have solid mineral resources such as gold, lead, limestones, etc.
According to Mitee who was in August 14, 2012 appointed to Head the National Stakeholders Working Group for the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) by the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, insists that the absence of justice, fairness, inclusiveness and equity have conspired to keep Nigeria down.
He therefore called for the change of tactics by those at the helm of affairs of the country, pointing out that.
Meanwhile, Ifeanyi Nnaji, Head of Operations NEMA, Imo has confirmed that the death toll of the Imo illegal refinery fire explosion has risen above 110 persons, adding that more bodies have been recovered in the aftermath of the searches conducted in the recent days.
The NEMA official revealed that many more people who were running to escape the inferno may have ran into the nearby river and were drowned too and are unaccounted for.
Nnaji however disclosed that the recovered bodies will be given mass burial soon.
