A group of Niger Delta youths under the
aegis of Niger Delta Peace Agitators (NDPA) has asked President
Muhammadu Buhari to stay action in the planned deployment of special
forces in the Niger Delta to combat pipeline vandalism and destruction
of national infrastructure in the region pending the outcome of the
engagements they had commenced to arrest the situation.
The group which cuts across different
professional groups deplored the resurgence of vandalism; asked those
behind the actions to stop and consider the effect on the environment
and the fall out on the already impacted villages so that all
outstanding issues would be resolved through dialogue.
The group rose from an enlarged meeting
in Port Harcourt presided over by the President of NDPA, Ambassador Tony
Benson popularly called Mayor, according to a statement by Spokesman
of the body, Ambassador Kenule Nwiya and resolved to engage all groups
across the divide to ensure that they stopped the collateral damage that
would arise from military action.
According to them, a military operation
in the region would affect the innocent villagers and creek dwellers
more than those engaging in breaking pipelines and promised to ensure
that an enduring truce was achieved for peace to reign.
The group said that Buhari had started
some positive engagements in the region and if given chance, would do
more as development was only possible in an atmosphere of peace.
“President Muhammadu Buhari should not
see an option in deployment of special forces as was threatened by the
military. Force will not achieve the needed peace in the region and we
have come out to work with all segments in the region to see that we
bring everybody to a dialogue table and amicably resolve every
outstanding issue for a lasting peace.
“We are also using this opportunity to
ask all those still attacking facilities in the Niger Delta to desist
and put all hands on deck to achieve the needed development. We are from
the Niger Delta region also and feel what our people feel. A military
operation in the Niger Delta can only negatively impact on our people so
let us all press for peace.
“We also use this opportunity to commend
President Muhammadu Buhari for nominating Nsima Ekere as the Managing
Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) which shows
that he means well for the region. It may take some time for the result
of the plans of the administration to yield fruits; so we are calling
for more patience since the President is moving in the right direction”,
Nwiya said.
The peace agitators however called on
President Buhari to expedite action in the commencement of the
Lagos-Calabar rail line which they said would open the region to more
development with ease of moving men and goods in and out of the region,
adding that there was need for projects within the region to be taken as
priority to prove to the people the good intention of the government.
To ensure that tension was not raised
further, the Niger Delta Peace Agitators pleaded with spokesmen of both
government and groups in the region to tone down their messages and
target attainment of peace instead of using offensive words to escalate
things.
They pledged to work with all levels of
government by making them accountable to the people regretting that the
level of development in the region did not reflect its contribution
and accruals which they insisted had lowered the standard of living in
the region. THIS DAY
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