Itsekiri youths in Warri South-West Council of Delta State have petitioned the federal and state governments over alleged marginalisation of their communities.

They also urged the two tiers of government to commence immediately the development of their communities.

Under the auspice of Concerned Orere, Yanagho Coastal Communities, the youths stated that they had observed that dialogue combined with violence is the language that government in the country listens to and understands.

It stressed, "though a painful option to adopt because of its consequences in terms of human and material losses, we have decided to adopt it to save generation, communities and the future of our children."

The group in a statement in Warri, lamented that the communities had suffered neglect, deprivation and environment degradation with their Ijaw brothers and neighbours, but lamented, "while the Ijaw areas are receiving appropriate attention through physical development, the Itsekiri axis has been left unattended to for no reasons in spite of being the highest oil producers in the state."

The statement was signed by Okandugba Etuwewe and Jolomi Ogiden, chairman and mobilisation officer of Orere Yanagho coastal communities, respectively.

They maintained that the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMOU), put in place by the oil multinationals in their areas are farce, intended only to hoodwink the communities, "as they are only implemented in the breach to line the pockets of a few community members to the benefits of company officials who do all within their powers to keep these communities permanently divided.