Renewed hostilities: N-Deltans say no to Avengers.

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PORT HARCOURT- THERE was a mixed signal, yesterday, in the Niger Delta region, to the 

resumption of hostilities by the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, rejection of the Federal Government’s 

Niger Delta Summit by the Pan-Niger-Delta Coastal States Consultative Forum, led by Chief Edwin 

Clark and President Muhammadu Buhari’s seemingly undecided disposition to tangible dialogue/

negotiation with stakeholders.

The Obong of Calabar, Edidem Abasi Ekpo Otu V, Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial 

district, Delta State in the National Assembly, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, and governorship aspirant 

of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the last governorship election in the state, Olorogu O’tega Emerhor, condemned the return to violence. Some of the leaders took Buhari to the cleaners over his body language and most recent comment overseas that treasury looters were sponsoring militants, warning that he was exacerbating, rather than resolve the crisis. Environmental harm Omo-Agege said, “It is very unfortunate. The resumption of hostilities by our brothers is short-sighted and counterproductive. The environmental harm occasioned by the bombings under-develops the region. It is only when he (Buhari) fails that we can take the government to task. I know the President wants genuine dialogue and means well for our people. They should allow peace to reign and give the President a chance to develop the Niger Delta.”

Obong of Calabar, Ekpo Otu V on his part, said “Nobody can rescue Nigeria in one day. Everybody should play a part in the development of the country and destruction of oil installations will further aggravate the economic situation in the country and as such, the militants in the Niger Delta should put pay to destruction of oil facilities and installations. Politicians in the country only think and work for their interest without taking others into consideration. Some people see the government of Buhari as having no focus, but that is those who have been benefiting from the way the country was run in the past. To the serious minds, Buhari seems to have a direction and should be given the chance to redress a lot of things that have gone wrong bin the country.” Olorogun Emerhor, stated: “It is unfortunate they are again resorting to violence. Violence cannot solve our Niger Delta problems. Government is still desirous of peace and has not abandoned dialogue. Two days ago (Saturday), there was a summit convened by Rotimi Amaechi, all to address this issue.

 I call for patience and cooperation from all stakeholders.” Okon, other A’Ibom leaders back Clark, others Akwa Ibom State leaders threw their weight towards the rejection of the planned two-day summit by Niger Delta leaders, describing the approach adopted towards solving the problems in the region as unfair and unacceptable. A former military administrator in Akwa Ibom, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (retd) said: “I may not have all the facts about this said summit, but I am aware of this 60 days window that the militants gave and said there is a ceasefire. And what I heard as of that time was that they would like to dialogue so that we can go into the issues that are really at stake. “And I know there was a time they said they would put together a team of Federal Government officials that will dialogue with representatives of these militants and stakeholders within the region so that we can really get into what the issue is and all that. The problem is that we have been having summits and conferences without achieving anything from the reports. It is not an academic exercise that will be able to solve this matter. I believe they will want to sit down and tell Nigerians why they are doing what they are doing. I think it is a very simple thing; we are now looking for the development in Nigeria. Of course we cannot develop if there is no peace. So whatever we can do to bring peace and you realise that you cannot have peace without justice. So let us get into the nitty-gritty of what is going on; talk to them.” Similarly Senator Anietie Okon, who expressed regret over what he described as clear insensitive and lopsided policies of the current administration, said such a summit would have been another talk-shop. Dismissing the summit, Okon said, “I do not think they know what they want to do and we are not going to be part of it. What we want is dialogue. Dialogue will be a situation where clearly critical issues are addressed rather than the so called summit that has no direction. It would have just been another talk-shop.” National President South -South Solidarity Forum, SSSF, Dr. Bassey Umoh said,

 “The Federal Government is confused. If it thinks it can solve the problems of the Niger Delta people through a summit and without involving the agitators or their representatives, it will fail because that will be meaningless.” Ball in the court of FG – Chief Mrs. Asuni, a.k.a Mama Niger Delta Activist, Mrs. Judith Asuni, said: “The recent statements by the Niger Delta Dialogue Contact Group and the Pan-Niger Delta Coastal States Consultative Forum show that there are many articulate, informed people in the Niger Delta who are capable of organizing a dialogue with government. More than a month has passed since the declaration of ceasefire by the Niger Delta Avengers. Yet the government has not initiated any serious dialogue with the people of the region. We have requested repeatedly for the Federal Government to identify a specific team to discuss the fundamental issues and to evolve solutions with, not for the people of the Niger Delta. We are waiting for positive and serious action by government,” she said. Ownership and control Former President, Ijaw National Congress, Professor Kimse Okoko, said: “The government knows what is wrong with the Niger Delta; they have dispossessed the people of the region of their resources. The starting point is that they give to us the ownership and control of our resources. That can only be done through the restructuring of the Nigerian federation along the lines of true federalism. No more, no less.” Executive Director Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Port Harcourt, Mr Anyankwe Nsirimovu, said: “Dialogue on critical Niger Delta issues was what resulted to the poorly managed Amnesty Programme. This was what the late President Yar’Adua’s Ledum Mitte -led 45 Niger Delta persons Technical Committee was all about. Its actions were holistic. All agitators bought into it. 

The report is there yearning for implementation since the death of Yar’Adua. Its content represents what is required to change the face of the region, environment and its peoples, no more in our view. “The Niger Delta Ministry was part product of the Technical Report. But under Jonathan, no one touched the report, did nothing about it. In fact, that regime presided over further under development of the region and peoples. Our wealth further impoverished the dying people of the region. The selfish pursuit of affluence by the militant elites afflicted the peoples horrendously.” Member, Delta State House of Assembly, Timi Tonye, differed, blaming the Federal Government for inaction, and saying: “My reaction is simple: the time-tested virtue of dialogue which is an integral component of democracy is being abused. The outcome is the feeling of hopelessness which is being manifested in resumption of hostilities in the Niger Delta. It is truly better to jaw-jaw than to war-war all the times.” Activist, Tony Uranta, agreed, saying ‘Is it not ludicrous that President Buhari’s men are so confused and focused on power struggles, that for over six weeks the peace window created by all armed groups unilaterally declaring a ceasefire and readiness to dialogue, the Federal Government of Nigeria has not even acknowledged this opportunity for securing the Niger Delta and helping ease the pain of the Nigerian masses suffering, according to Vice President Osinbajo, because of the imbroglio in this region?” Publicity Secretary, Bayelsa Elders Council and chairman, Bayelsa Development Forum, Chief T.K. Okorotie, who spoke to one or our reporters in Yenaogoa, said “Our position is very clear, we are saying dialogue is the answer. A summit is a talk shop, a lot of that has taken place in the past. Some of the reports are not even acted upon. Take for instance, the 45- member Ledum Mitee report is there unattended to and you want to go talk again. “The situation is very clear, the Niger Delta leaders across the South- South got together and made a unified and coordinated group under Chief E.K Clark, which is a coordinated and credible leadership of the Niger Delta for meaningful negotiation.” Give Buhari benefit of doubt- Ambakederemo Convener, South- South Reawakening Group, Joe Ambakederemo, disagreed, saying: “I think we should start from somewhere, see how we can forge ahead. I do not support the position of some of our leaders being stiff. We need to come forward and put in place processes that will lead to bringing lasting peace and development to the region. Agreed that had been propositions in the past not implemented, but this is a new government, so let us give the government benefit of doubt. By the time we get to the summit we can present these documents again to the government the outcome of the summits set up by the previous governments.” Summit doomed to flop – Morris Niger Delta environmentalist, Mr Alagoa Morris, one of those invited to the botched summit, said he had already paid for ticket when information reached him Friday evening that it had been cancelled. He said: “It appeared as if the politicians just wanted to present papers and lecture participants of what we knew already. Very little or no time was provided for participants to express themselves. That is not the type of gathering any serious minded people or government should embark on at this critical point in our national history.” Buhari jumping the gun – don University of Calabar lecturer, Dr Assang Ejem, said “The impression created by a government gives people hope and when that impression is not met, there is bound to be reaction by the people. This government came to power on the shoulders of change and to turn things around, but what we are hearing is recrimination, blame game and a one- sided anti corruption fight.” Youth Leader, Calabar Municipality, Dominic Archibong, said, “Government has a responsibility to the people and they should address the needs of the people and this can be achieved through dialogue and negotiation. Govt’s body language is suspicious 

The Isoko Development Union, IDU, the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Isoko nation, has emphasized the need for the Federal Government to engage Niger Delta stakeholders. President General of IDU, Chief Iduh Amadhe, who spoke through his media aide, Mr. Dan Odhomor said: “We want a direct engagement with Federal Government; a credible dialogue and this dialogue should carry everybody along. We have created the Pan Niger Delta forum; it is only dialogue that can solve this problem.” No need for fresh hostilities – Ndokwa youths On its part, the Ndokwa National Youth Movement, NNYM, said dialogue was the key to meaningful resolution of the contentious issues. National Secretary of the body, Presley Idi said: “Dialogue remains the key because there is no way meaningful resolution can be reached without first dialoguing to ascertain the root cause of the unrest. We are in support of the call for dialogue first before convoking stakeholders’ summit. At the same time, we do not think there is need for resumption of hostilities, but the Federal Government is to be blamed as it has not shown any sign of sincerity on its path towards ending the hostilities in the region. 

As youth leaders in the region, we are appealing to the Niger Delta Avengers to still cease fire while we continue to mount pressure on the Federal Government to engage in the dialogue. “To us, the claim by Mr. President that militants are being sponsored by those who the Federal Government alleged to have looted the nation’s treasury is not only unfounded, but also laughable” he said. Buhari caused renewed hostilities – Bekederemo President, Niger Delta Security Watch organisation of Nigeria, Dickson Bekederemo, asserted: “The resumption of hostilities by the militants is a direct reaction to the insincerity and lack of political will by the Buhari-led administration to tackle the twins issues of oil governance and restructuring of this lop sided Nigeria state, which favour certain section of the country.’” Militants, sponsors are blackmailers, fraudsters – Afoegba Leader and founder of the Niger Delta Sustainable Development Advocacy, NDSDA, Sir Gregory Afoegba, expressed a different opinion, “the Federal Government, which called off the Niger Delta summit knows why they did so and I am sure it did not shelve it because some so-called Niger Delta leaders preempted it as inappropriate” he said. He also said: “At the end of the day, if government falls for the blackmail, it would end up doing same thing as the previous government and of course they will expect to gain a different result.” Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, came hard on the Pan-Delta Coastal States Consultative Forum, led by Chief Edwin Clark, for rejecting the Niger Delta Summit proposed by the Federal Government. The group in a statement, yesterday, by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, said. “MEND dissociates itself from the ‘holier than thou’ and arrogant attitude of the Pan-Niger Delta Group over the proposed Niger Delta Summit convened by the Federal Government. MEND also condemns in very strong terms the unstable, destructive and immature behaviour of the Niger Delta Avengers, which resume hostilities at the slightest lame excuse.” We believe that the right approach would have been to attend this summit as a precursor to future intensive interactions and dialogue with government. 

A boycott at this stage, in our opinion was rather hasty. “Considering that this government has been open to the subject of dialogue with a people whose majority sold their birth rights for monthly stipends under a fraudulent amnesty programme, whose elders, traditional rulers, tribal assemblies, political class, activists and clergy turned a blind eye and kept mute during the six years of plenty and unmitigated corruption and looting, while their own son and daughter were at the helm. “The Pan-Niger Delta Group on behalf of the Niger Delta people should go to the summit in shame and sober reflection while singing the praise of President Buhari like the women of Israel sang in praise of David. “All we are demanding from the current administration today were valid issues during the past administration of a son of the soil Dr Goodluck Jonathan, which were never seen as urgent during his tenure to be addressed.”