Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has formally declared cessation of hostilities in the Niger Delta region.
It, however, declared support
for any emerging negotiating team that Chief Edwin Clark’s Niger Delta
elders and stakeholders conference held last Friday might put in place
to negotiate with the Federal Government and multinational oil companies
on modalities for de-escalating conflicts in the region.
NDA, in a release signed by
its spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo, said it will continue to observe
cessation of hostilities against the interests of oil companies but
warned that it will engage in asymmetric warfare during the period
should the Federal Government use security agencies to harass or
intimidate its suspected members.
Furthermore,“we are going to continue the
observation of our unannounced cessation of hostilities in the Niger
Delta against all interests of the multinational oil corporations, but
we will continuously adopt our asymmetric warfare during this period if
the Nigerian government and the ruling political APC continues to use
security agencies/agents, formations and politicians to arrest,
intimidate, invade and harass innocent citizens, suspected NDA members
and invade especially Ijaw communities”, it stated.
Also, the militant group maintained
that its struggle has always been a Pan-Niger Delta one, stressing that
it is aware that anti-Niger Delta elements were using some disorganized
characters from the region to scuttle all efforts to restore the essence
of their humanity – resource control and self-determination.
Reiterating its support for
the outcome of Chief Clark’s conference held last Friday in Warri, the
Niger Delta Avengers warned that the emerging negotiating team from the
conference must be peopled by those that have genuine love for the
development of the region.
It declared “We are going to
support any collective negotiation team emerging from the Chief (Dr.)
Papa Edwin Kiagbodo Clark Niger Delta elders and genuine stakeholders
conference to engage with the federal government of Nigeria,
representatives from the home countries of all multinational Oil
Corporations and neutral international mediators that will be focused on
achieving the short, medium and long term frameworks and objectives to
de-escalating conflicts in the Niger Delta.
“Most of the frameworks and
objectives are clearly stated in various reports, declarations and
recommendations of the likes of the Sir.Henry Willinks minority rights
reports of pre-independence Nigeria (1957-8), The Kaiama Declaration
document, The General Alexander Ogomudia report, The Ledum Mittee-headed
Niger Delta Technical Committee report and restructuring to fiscal
federalism”, it stated.
The militant group said
whenever the Federal Government is ready for dialogue or negotions with
the team, the mandate must be treated with care.
“We want the peace with honour
this time around! Our advice to our Niger Delta elders and genuine
stakeholders is that whenever this inhuman project called Nigeria and
her government is ready for dialogue/negotiations with them, this
mandate should be treated with that care as driving a vehicle like that
of a truck laden with fire”, it added.
NDA warned that it is prepared
to fight more for the Niger Delta should the opportunity for dialogue
fail but for now it is giving tacit support for the Niger Delta elders
and genuine stakeholders to go to the dialogue table.
“We promise to fight more for
the Niger Delta, if this opportunity fails. Therefore, we will give our
Niger Delta elders and genuine stakeholders that tacit support to the
dialogue table with the government and the multinational oil
corporations whenever the enabling environment prevails”, it added.
The militant group also warned
those using “rogue” platforms to disorganise the struggle that nemesis
will soon catch up with them.
“We also use this medium to
warn those using rogue platforms like the defunct so-called MEND, RNDA-
Cynthia Whyte, especially Charles Okah who is franchising these
internet-based banditry from his prison cell, through Victor Ebikabowei
Ben (Boyloaf), Timipre Silva, Selekaye Ebikabowei, Ayirimi Emani,
Michael Johnny, Governor Adams Oshiomole to please inform those their
paymasters that the days of doom are here.
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