We Won’t Return To Militancy, IYC Tells Asari Dokubo …Urges Buhari To Sustain Peace In N’Delta

L-R: NYSC Coordinator in Rivers State, Mrs Ngozi Nwatarali, Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi and Commander, 2 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Koko Essien, during the Director-General’s pre-election advocacy tour to 2 Brigade in Port Harcourt, yesterday

The Ijaw Youth Council (Worldwide) yesterday distanced itself from the threats by an ex-militant leader, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, that Niger Delta militants might return to the creeks to protest against the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential election.
IYC, however, said it would cooperate with and closely monitor the incoming administration of Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.) to “see their (its) dance steps.”
The President of IYC, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, made the clarifications in Abuja after reading a communique issued at the end of its meeting held at Tuomo community in Delta State to review the outcome of the March 28, 2015 Presidential election.
He also expressed sadness over what he described as the deliberate efforts by the core North and a section of the South-West “to frustrate the administration of Jonathan and force him out of power through false media propaganda and insurgency in the North in connivance with some foreign countries.”
Eradiri accused the unnamed foreign countries of displaying “obvious bias during the electoral process.”
He added, “The Ijaw nation, satisfied with the performance and conduct of President Jonathan in office, will warmly welcome him back home from national service.”
Dokubo-Asari, leader of Niger-Delta Peoples Volunteers Force, had in a statement by his spokesperson, Mr. Rex Anighoro, said the voting pattern showed that the South-West and the North “ganged up” against the South-South and South-East geo-political zones.
The ex-Niger Delta warlord believed it was unfair that the minorities were being emasculated by the majority ethnic groups.
But Eradiri said the NDPVF founder was an individual like any other Nigerian, who had a right to his views.
He said, “Well, Alhaji Dokubo-Asari is an individual, who has a right to his views. Being a leader in the Niger-Delta, he may be saying things based on the way he sees it. The fact that we have also taken a decision does not mean that other structures or individuals will not make one or two comments as a result of immediate reactions to the way the Presidential election went.
“But the institution that leads the organisation, we, the youths of Niger Delta, have made our position. Every other person may look at it in their own way, but we have decided to look at Buhari’s administration and see how it will go and we will know the steps to take.
“We don’t have any plan for violence and returning to the creeks. Ijaw and Niger Delta youths should be calm, peaceful and maintain the existing peace in the Niger Delta region.”
Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) yesterday called on the President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, to sustain the existing peace in the Niger Delta, to increase oil production.
This advice was handed down by the President of the council, Mr Udengs Eradiri, at a news conference in Abuja.
According to Eradiri, the existing peace could be maintained if the incoming administration sustained the Presidential Amnesty Programme for former agitators in the region.
“The Presidential Amnesty Programme for Ex-Agitators in the Niger-Delta region, which has greatly contributed to the sustenance of peace in the Niger-Delta region, should be sustained by the incoming administration.
“President Jonathan’s extra-ordinary peace building efforts in the Niger-Delta region is responsible for the resultant increase in oil production and increased oil revenue,” Eradiri said.
The Ijaw youth leader urged the incoming government to fund and strengthen the existing federal structures set up to develop the Niger-Delta region such as the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Niger-Delta Ministry.
“The incoming administration should address the problems of environmental degradation in the Niger-Delta region, including implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoni.
“It should also address the general environmental remediation in other parts of the region which are affected by environmental degradation,” Eradiri said.
He further advised that the recommendations of the National Confab should be implemented by the incoming government to deepen the federal system of government where the federating units will develop at their own pace.
According to him, the confab recommendations would address some of the imbalances responsible for political instability in Nigeria and the desperation to control government at the centre.
He also asked the incoming federal administration to start the process of national integration and run an all-inclusive government, to address the polarisation and disunity arising from the outcome of the presidential elections.