Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to set up the Federal Government dialogue and negotiation team with neutral international observers and representatives of international oil companies (IOCs).
Self-styled Brig. Gen. Mudoch Agbinibo, spokesperson, Niger Delta Avengers, advised on Monday on the group’s website while reacting to the meeting between Niger Delta elders and leaders under the leadership of Edwin Kiagbodo Clark with the Federal Government.
He said there would come a time the people of the Niger Delta too can do the thinking for Buhari if he cannot find solution from his men around him, saying there are more than one ways to skin a cat as the president needs the people of the Niger Delta more than they need him.
According to him, there are some elements and by-products of conflicts merchants from the Niger Delta working with some alleged sold and bought up interests against the peace and development of the area that works closely with those President Buhari abdicated governing of Nigeria to since May 2015 that are deplorably misusing his trust.
“We sympathise with President Muhammadu Buhari over Boko Haram and herdsmen, his so-called brothers and children that he is handling with kids gloves and the deliberate state orchestrated killings in Biafra land.
“There are no problems among groups in the agitation; we may have challenges of speaking with one voice. When the trumpet blows, we will go the biblical way of separating the wheat from the tares” (Matthew 13:24-30).”
“The path to peace and conflicts resolution is always not a straight jackpot. The greatness of every nation is not building strongmen but building laws and strong institutions. We are not deterred by President Buhari’s mulling over continuous military operation and so-called funny and odd doctrines like military choke points, Operations Delta Safe and talking ignorantly like a medieval king by asking people to leave Nigeria if they wish.”
Agbinibo said the Niger Delta elders deserve kudos for presenting such minimal demands before the government of Nigeria to pacify a people and region that has being continuously raped and dehumanised since 1914.
He said these demands would lead the roadmap to engender desired peaceful atmosphere that Nigerian state so need if there is sincerity as he said the days of buying peace through unpatriotic Niger Deltans like the Rotimi Amaechis, Ayirimi Emamis, Timipre Sylvas to extract our resources are gone for good.
“It is high time President Buhari employed capable brains that will manage his body language and government positively before it degenerates to a psychopathic regime. At his age he can decide to stop listening to those Rotimi Amaechis, Timpre Sylvas and Adams Oshiomholes etc that bankrolled his journey to power with stolen wealth from our states that he has adequately shielded against justice as compensation.
“Any leader that is ready to govern his people must have political education. Else, he is a criminal. You cannot treat the Niger Delta with disdain while you treat your brothers that are terrorists and mere kidnappers (Boko Haram) like kings and queens by committing the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement from Geneva to witness your transactions with them, before releasing their hostages to you.
“Since the day crude oil and gas resources were discovered for the past 60 years, we are only asking for potable water, electricity, affordable healthcare, quality education etc; until 1994, when our people were visited by state sponsored military terror by the regime of General Sani Abacha, a regime President Muhammadu Buhari served as one of his henchmen and chaired the Petroleum Trust Fund.
“Our elders, traditional rulers and stakeholders have spoken. They have placed the minimal legitimate demands of the Niger Delta region before the Nigerian government. The prospects of regaining the trust of the people by talking down on the people or using the instruments of force by the state are gone. This is the 21st century Niger Delta, we gave the Nigerian state and her international oil corporations freedom, peaceful atmosphere overtime but were betrayed”, Agbinibo stated.
