• Says alienation of Ijaws responsible for renewed militancy
• Says true federalism is the way out
•Calls for the immediate withdrawal of troops in Niger Delta Communities.
WAARI -Ijaw elders drawn from the seven Niger Delta States have today flooded Warri in Delta State to proffer solutions on the lingering insecurity challenges that have engulfed the region in recent times with a devastating effect on the country’s economy.
The meeting was said to have been convened by foremost Ijaw leader and elder statesman Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark in collaboration with other elders that where deeply worried over the state of affairs.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting called on the President Mahamnadu Buhari led Federal Government to redress the alienation of the Niger Delta region and its inhabitants while joining their voices in calling for the restructuring of the Nigerian State by practicing true federalism as a panacea of development in the country.
The meeting also called on President Buhari to withdraw the military from all Niger Delta Communities as a sign of sincerity in the proposed dialogue.
“The elders and leaders of the Ijaw nation call for the immediate restructuring of the Nigerian Nation along the lines of Fiscal Federalism noting that this is panacea for the sustainable development of Nigeria,” the communique read.
“They further calls on the Federal Government, as a demonstration of sincerity of its commitment to dialogue, immediately withdraw the military from all occupied Ijaw Communities, particularly Gbaramatu Kingdom.
“The elders and leaders of the Ijaw nation call for the immediate restructuring of the Nigerian Nation along the lines of Fiscal Federalism noting that this is panacea for the sustainable development of Nigeria.
“The meeting also noted the noninclusive policies of the present administration which have led to alienation of some components of the federation, particularly the Ijaw nation from the main stream of national development and calls on Mr President to redress this ugly state of affairs.
“The meeting noted the impact of the activities of various militant groups in the Niger Delta on the National economy with the concomitant devastation of the ecosystem of the region and calls on all the various agitating groups to seize any further attack on crude oil and gas facilities and embrace the offer of dialogue by the Federal Government.
“The meeting noted that in spite of the fact that the Ijaw territory is the most impacted by the devastation arising from the conflict, the leadership of the Ijaw nation has not been reached by the Federal Government.
“The meeting condemn the move to scrap the Nigerian Maritime University approved by the proceeding Federal Government to be sited at Okerenkoko with temporary site at Kurutie both in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South -West Local Government of Delta State and calls for the immediate takeoff of the university.”
The meeting however, presided over by Ijaw National Leader Chief (Dr) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, OFR, CON and was overwhelmingly attended by prominent Ijaw elders and leaders of thought including His Excellency Chief Seriake Henry Dickson, Governor of Bayelsa State; His Excellency Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, Deputy Governor of Delta State; His Royal Highness Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas; His Royal Majesty, Pete Charles Ayemi-Botu, JP, OFR; His Royal Majesty Couple M. Oromoni, Amakosu of Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri Kingdom; Alaowei Broderick Bosom; H.E Sir (Dr) Gabriel Toby Former Deputy Governor of Rivers State; (Chief (Hon) TKO Okorotie; Hon. Justice Francis Tabai, Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (Rtd); Chief Boma Obuoforibo (President,Ijaw National Congress); Chief Francis Doukpola, Arc E. I. Etteh; Chief Francis J Williams; Prof C. A Dime, Prof Dagogo Fubara; His Majesty Captain Joseph Timiyan, Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha kingdom; Chief Douye Douglas Naingba; Pastor Power Aginighan; Hon.P.Y Biakpara; High Chief Wellington Okirika, the Bolouwei of Gbaramatu kingdom; HRH Diamond Tobin-West; Chief Hon. Justice CET Ayama (rtd); Rt. Hon Julius Pondi, Chief Barr JM Aseh; Chief Tons Fetepigi; Chief Allen Opungiako; Prof. Benjamin Opara; Dr. Alfred Mulade; Barr (Dr) Bello Orubebe with the host of others.
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Copyright 2016 GbaramatVoice Newspaper. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.gbaramatuvoicenews.com as the source.
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