South-South Monarchs
Forum says it would hold a three-day emergency meeting on restiveness and escalated militancy in the Niger Delta region.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Chairman of the forum, Edmund M. Daukoru-Mingi XII, the Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom, in Lagos, recently.
The chairman said the meeting, taking place between June 27 and June 29 in Uyo, would explore ways of stopping the ongoing attack on national assets.
He said the meeting would also look at strategic frameworks on matters relating to broader aspects of security in the region.
He said the forum, which had earlier met in Port Harcourt, would develop actionable blueprint to resolve the crisis in the region.
The traditional ruler said the renewed violence and militancy targeted at destruction of national assets could threaten the nation’s corporate existence.
“As we speak, our economy is bleeding at the seams. Critical and strategic national assets are been systematically sabotaged.
“Business activities have taken a nosedive and are plummeting steadily, while at the same time, the ecology of land in the region is fast being degraded as a result of massive spillage from the destroyed crude trunk lines.
“This has constituted a national embarrassment and opportunity losses of untold proportions. Under this heightened tension, the future of the region is being driven backward.”
He urged parties in the conflict to “see the intervention as a natural mandate and a sacred duty, which judging by the very system of government, only the traditional institution is uniquely placed to initiate”.
He appealed to all to embrace dialogue while efforts were on to explore strategies aimed at peaceful reconciliation of the differences.