TRADITIONAL rulers and stakeholders of the six Niger Delta states, yesterday, asked the militants blowing up oil pipelines and gas facilities in the region to henceforth stop hostilities and give room for dialogue. At a consultative meeting yesterday in Effurun, Delta State, they resolved to establish a pan-Niger Delta platform that could speak for the region.
They resolved to set up the platform with immediate effect. Reiterating their support for the demand for the restructuring of Nigeria’s political system as recommended by the 2014 National Conference, they said the practice of equitable fiscal federalism was a precondition for sustainable peace and development.
In a communique jointly signed by the traditional rulers, stakeholders and the convener, Chief Edwin Clark, they lamented that:”The Federal Government has deployed military resources in the area causing fear, unease and social dislocation of innocent people.
“The situation is potentially explosive and capable of compounding the economic conditions of the Niger Delta and coastal region.”
The communique urged the federal government “to stop further deployment of military hardware and resources in the region.” In addition, it said: “This will restore the confidence of the people and enhance the opportunity for peace and order. Without prejudice to efforts made so far, the federal government should demonstrate seriousness by reaching out to the authentic representatives of the region to discuss and the way forward.
“Any platform for dialogue and negotiation should be all-embracing involving all ethnic nationalities and interest groups in the region.”
Earlier in his remark, the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa stressed the need for the Niger Delta to have stakeholders that would speak for the region, saying, “with this, even our younger ones when we return and talk to them, they would listen because they know we have gone to speak for the people and not our pockets.
“We have been crying as a people that oil companies have been destroying our lands. Over time they have harmed our land and water and everything is getting bad. Unfortunately, we are taking actions that can do to our lands and water far more than the oil companies are doing.”
While saying that the federal, state and local governments had not done much for the region, Okowa explained thus: “We cannot in anger destroy everything. With a united voice, we can make the government and its interventionist agencies do more.
“We need to appeal to our young ones to be peaceful and stop the hostilities but with a firm promise that the elders are able to take the bull by the horn and speak out without fear or favour on behalf our people.
“In this country, everybody is talking about diversification of the economy, as long as they begin to explore the solid minerals and we are able to do well as a nation, the oil and gas era would begin to slow down. Therefore, what I believe we should agitate for is for the federal government to use the oil and gas resources to further develop our areas and also diversify the downstream sector of the economy in such a way that would benefit us.”
Speaking earlier, Clark noted that genuine restructuring of the political administration of Nigeria would unite and strengthen the country. He insisted that the answers to the problem bedevilling the country are contained in the report of the 2014 Confab.
He said:”We have lately seen the unwholesome deployment of troops into all nooks and crannies of the Niger Delta coastal communities, causing panic, disaffection, closure of schools and people deserting their homesteads and becoming refugees in various places.
The attendees were Mr. Timi Alaibe, Alaowie Broderick Bozimo, Tony Uranta, Godwin Bozimo, Tam Brisibe, Justice F. Tabia (Retd), Dr. Tonye Fuayefika, Chief Douyi Douglas-Naingba, Gen. Idada Ikponmwen (retd), Rev. I. C Tolar, Chief Nduka Obaiagbena and Dr. Cicillia Ojeizua among others.
They resolved to set up the platform with immediate effect. Reiterating their support for the demand for the restructuring of Nigeria’s political system as recommended by the 2014 National Conference, they said the practice of equitable fiscal federalism was a precondition for sustainable peace and development.
In a communique jointly signed by the traditional rulers, stakeholders and the convener, Chief Edwin Clark, they lamented that:”The Federal Government has deployed military resources in the area causing fear, unease and social dislocation of innocent people.
“The situation is potentially explosive and capable of compounding the economic conditions of the Niger Delta and coastal region.”
The communique urged the federal government “to stop further deployment of military hardware and resources in the region.” In addition, it said: “This will restore the confidence of the people and enhance the opportunity for peace and order. Without prejudice to efforts made so far, the federal government should demonstrate seriousness by reaching out to the authentic representatives of the region to discuss and the way forward.
“Any platform for dialogue and negotiation should be all-embracing involving all ethnic nationalities and interest groups in the region.”
Earlier in his remark, the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa stressed the need for the Niger Delta to have stakeholders that would speak for the region, saying, “with this, even our younger ones when we return and talk to them, they would listen because they know we have gone to speak for the people and not our pockets.
“We have been crying as a people that oil companies have been destroying our lands. Over time they have harmed our land and water and everything is getting bad. Unfortunately, we are taking actions that can do to our lands and water far more than the oil companies are doing.”
While saying that the federal, state and local governments had not done much for the region, Okowa explained thus: “We cannot in anger destroy everything. With a united voice, we can make the government and its interventionist agencies do more.
“We need to appeal to our young ones to be peaceful and stop the hostilities but with a firm promise that the elders are able to take the bull by the horn and speak out without fear or favour on behalf our people.
“In this country, everybody is talking about diversification of the economy, as long as they begin to explore the solid minerals and we are able to do well as a nation, the oil and gas era would begin to slow down. Therefore, what I believe we should agitate for is for the federal government to use the oil and gas resources to further develop our areas and also diversify the downstream sector of the economy in such a way that would benefit us.”
Speaking earlier, Clark noted that genuine restructuring of the political administration of Nigeria would unite and strengthen the country. He insisted that the answers to the problem bedevilling the country are contained in the report of the 2014 Confab.
He said:”We have lately seen the unwholesome deployment of troops into all nooks and crannies of the Niger Delta coastal communities, causing panic, disaffection, closure of schools and people deserting their homesteads and becoming refugees in various places.
The attendees were Mr. Timi Alaibe, Alaowie Broderick Bozimo, Tony Uranta, Godwin Bozimo, Tam Brisibe, Justice F. Tabia (Retd), Dr. Tonye Fuayefika, Chief Douyi Douglas-Naingba, Gen. Idada Ikponmwen (retd), Rev. I. C Tolar, Chief Nduka Obaiagbena and Dr. Cicillia Ojeizua among others.
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