By Okiemute Okpomor In a determined bid to find lasting solution to the renewed wave of militant resurgency and crisis in the oil rich Niger Delta region, a meeting of major stakeholders in the core six Niger Delta Coastal states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers would converge on Friday, August 19, 2016 in Delta State for a meeting to address the issue.
This was disclosed by Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, elder statesman and Ijaw national leader who was flanked by Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, former Minister of Police Affairs in Warri, he explained that the meeting had been called to forge a way forward for the region and to write off the impression that the region’s problem is an Ijaw problem.
He said that media invitation had been sent out to all stakeholders
from the six core states of the region, including serving and former governors, serving and former legislators (federal and states), youths and other interest groups with a view to collectively sort out the crisis, adding, “we called this meeting to inform you that we leaders of the Niger Delta region are consulting to end this prevailing situation of renewed militancy. This is why stakeholders including governors, traditional rulers, legislators (federal and state) and leaders are meeting on 19 August, 2016, at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Effurun, Delta State.”
Chief Clark further noted the problem is not Ijaw problem alone,
adding, “it is a problem of the entire Niger Delta coastal states. You
have observed that the problem of vandalization has affected the
national economy and affects us too.”.
Speaking on the need for dialogue, the former Federal Information
Commissioner said, “ destruction of national assets is not the
solution to the problem of neglect, marginalization, unemployment or underdevelopment. In all civilized democratic society, there must be dialogue at all times. There is no way you can begin to fight without looking back. Crisis does not solve crisis, dialogue is the answer. We are part of Nigeria, we believe in the unity, development of this country and there can never be development without peace and there cannot be peace without justice.”
On the need to come together by all stakeholders from all the coastal states of the region, Chief Clark has this to say, “we believe
therefore that there is need for all the traditional rulers from the
six states, Legislatures, politicians, former ministers to come and
deliberate and put their heads together on how we can bring about lasting peace in the Niger Delta so that the development we are talking about would come to us.”
Commenting on the Federal Government Amnesty programme, the Elder statesman and Ijaw national leader added, “President Buhari has recognized that there is need for dialogue and he has also said that he is looking at the Amnesty documents with a view to implement them.
We are therefore saying that we should meet and ask the federal
government to dialogue with a team from the six Niger Delta coastal states and we have agreed that the meeting should hold in Warri, Delta State.”.
He then appealed to youths from the region to embrace peace as there can be no meaningful development in an atmosphere of chaos, adding, “We are also appealing to our youths to give peace a chance as we have always done because this country belongs to us. The President is a Nigerian President and does not belong to an ethnic group or a section of country.”
