•Task Buhari on a genuine dialogue.
WARRI -Non Governmental organisations within the Niger Delta region, Foundation for Human Rights and Anti Corruption Crusade (FHRACC) and Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) have condemned calls from Adaka Boro Avengers not to declare the Niger Delta Republic while calling on all militants to embrace the dialogue option offered by the President.
The groups in separate Press Statements sent to Gbaramatu Voice Newspaper today also charged President Mohammadu Buhari to genuinely address the Niger Delta question while calling on him to personally lead the Federal Government negotiation team.
The national coordinator of the Center for Peace & Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), Comr. Sheriff Mulade noted that without peace there would be no meaningful development, he calls on all militant groups to constructively and intellectually engage the Government on the multifaceted challenges bedevilling the region while urging militants to key into the dialogue window opened by the presidency.
“I want to strongly advise and caution Adaka Boro avengers against their alleged plan to declare a Niger Delta Republic on 1st August 2016 because Niger Deltans are not in support of it. We know that successive governments have neglected, deprived and undeveloped the region in spite of her huge contributions to the national economy.
“What we need now is constructive engagement with the Federal Government since President Muhammadu Buhari has considered dialogue as the best option to engage stakeholders and find a lasting solution to the lingering quest for development towards ending militancy. We must give peace a chance.”
“However, the Federal Government must show sincerity of purpose for stakeholders to have confidence in it while Mr. President should personally lead the dialogue process with critical stakeholders to achieve the desired result and not through agents or multinationals because that seriously connotes the insensitivity of government and the loss of sovereignty to multinationals. Am appealing to avengers to kindly abort their plans as any attempt will amount to a colossal loss in the society”. Sheriff noted.
The National President of the Foundation for Human Rights and Anti Corrupt Crusade, Alaowei Cleric Esq., also faulted the threat by the Adaka Boro Avengers of declaring Niger Delta republic as he described it as uncalled for and at variance with present realities.
Alaowei further added that the threat does not in any way conform with the tenets of the Niger Delta struggle while making reference to the Kiama declaration and the Ogoni Bill of rights by particularly noting that most of the declarations where about self determination and not outright secession from the Nigerian State.
He however, “if an independent Niger Delta Republic should be an option, then they must use civilized means to pursue their agenda.” he said.
The statement reads in part:
“The growing threats by some militants groups particularly the Adaka Boro Avengers (ABA) to declare Niger Delta Republic on the 1st of August 2016 does not conform with the tenets of the Niger Delta Struggle. The Foundation of the Struggle is well captured in the various Declarations by the ethnic nationalities in the region such as the Kaiama Declaration, the Ogoni Bill of Rights etc. Although all the Declarations anchored their demands on self-determination within the Nigerian Federation, none of them proposed to declare Niger Delta as an independent State from Nigeria. Niger Deltans are requesting for economic-cum political autonomy within the Nigerian Government. If the militants are fighting for the genuine cause of the region then they should not make matters worst for the people.
” Already, Maj. Jasper Adaka Boro of blessed memory had raised the bar for armed Confrontation and for over the years militants in the region have been engaging the Federal Government in armed conflicts. There are times armed struggle is not lucrative to achieving ones aim. The world has evolved from armed struggle into intellectual struggle. Let the militants use non-violent approach to pursue their aim. All the various ethnic nationalities in the Country have lend their voices to the need for Nigerians to renegotiate our unity. Niger Delta militants should also toe the same line by joining other Nigerians to push for our twin demands of Sovereign National Conference and Referendum. In the world today, Struggle for independent through referendum is the only acceptable platform. The militants should take a cue from the recent world history.
“For the sake of Peace and the need for our corporate existence, President Buhari should not shy away from dialoguing with the militants. What is happening in the Niger Delta has further supported the need to renegotiate the Nigeria’s unity. Mr President, please save Nigeria from the eminent precipe by allowing Nigerians to decide their future existence through a referendum. We are also appealing to well meaning Nigerians to recharge their causes in demanding for the restructuring of the country. Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder.”
Cleric, frowns at the President’s body language towards the Niger Delta region since he assumes office, he also accuses him of divide and rule tactics, hence the continued unabated insecurity.
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