The Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (FHRACC) and the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), both in Delta State, yesterday, called on the Adaka Boro Avengers (ABA), to abort their plan to declare a Republic of Niger Delta, on August 1.
The groups, in separate statements in Warri, and made available to The Tide, said the move does not enjoy the support of right- thinking indigenes of the region.
The statements were signed by FHRACC National President, Alaowei Cleric and CEPEJ National Coordinator, Sheriff Mulade.
According to FHRACC: “the growing threats by some militant groups, particularly the Adaka Boro Avengers to declare Niger Delta Republic on August 1, 2016, does not conform with the tenets of the Niger Delta struggle.
“The foundation of the struggle is well-captured in the various declarations by the ethnic nationalities in the region such as the Kaiama Declaration, the Ogoni Bill of Rights etc. Although all the declarations anchored their demands on self-determination within the Nigerian federation, none of them proposed to declare Niger Delta as an independent state from Nigeria.
“Niger Deltans are requesting for economic and political autonomy within the Nigerian state. If the militants are fighting for the genuine cause of the region, then they should not make matters worst for the people,” the group said.
It added: “If an independent Niger Delta Republic should be an option, then they must use civilised means to pursue their agenda.”
FHRACC noted, “already, Maj. Jasper Adaka Boro of blessed memory had raised the bar for armed confrontation, and over the years, militants in the region have been engaging the Federal Government in armed conflicts.
“There are times armed struggle is not lucrative to achieving one’s aim. The world has evolved from armed struggle into intellectual struggle. Let the militants use non-violent approach to pursue their aim. All the various ethnic nationalities in the country have lent their voices to the need for Nigerians to renegotiate our unity.
“Niger Delta militants should also toe the same line by joining other Nigerians to push for our twin demands of Sovereign National Conference and Referendum. In the world today, struggle for independence through referendum is the only acceptable platform. The militants should take a cue from the recent world history,” it emphasised.
The group, however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari “to commit genuine effort to addressing the impasse,” adding, “the Federal Government’s divide and rule tactics or better still, lackadaisical attitude towards the region cannot resolve the crisis.”
It said, “We sense Mr President has given in to mischief makers who are averse to dialogue and have commended military approach. For the sake of peace and our corporate existence, President Buhari should not shy away from dialoguing with the militants. What is happening in the Niger Delta has further supported the need to renegotiate the Nigeria’s unity.
“Mr President, please save Nigeria from imminent precipice by allowing Nigerians to decide their future existence through a referendum,” FHRACC added.
Similarly, CEPEJ urged Adaka Boro Avengers to “give peace a chance and take advantage of the Federal Government dialogue because no meaningful development can take place in a rancorous environment.”
The statement, said: “Adaka Boro Avengers should abort their alleged plan to declare Niger -Delta Republic on August 1 because Niger Deltans do not support it.
“We know successive governments neglected, deprived and underdeveloped the region in spite of her huge contributions to the national economy. But what we need now is constructive engagement with the Federal Government since President Buhari has considered dialogue as the best option to engage the stakeholders and find a lasting solution to the lingering quest for development towards ending militancy,”  CEPEJ asserted.
The group also implored government to show sincerity of purpose for the people “to have  confidence in what he is doing, while Mr President should personally lead the dialogue process to achieve the desired result.”
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, has threatened that the Nigerian Army would deploy full military action in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, if dialogue with the Niger Delta Avengers fails.
Buratai, said this in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, at the commissioning of the 2 Brigade Command administrative office complex at Bori Camp.
The COAS, who was represented by the General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major-Gen Ibrahim Atahiru, said the Federal Government was still committed to dialogue with the militant group, but that government could resort to other means, if dialogue failed.
“The non-kinetic has always been the source first before government can recourse to the kinetic means. There is the need for the Niger Delta Avengers to see reason and dialogue with government,” he said.
He commended the 2 Brigade Command for the completion of the office complex, saying that the office block would improve the operational efficiency and capability of officers and men of the command.
The Army chief later commissioned other projects at the command, including the swimming  pool, office complex for regiment officers as well as  building blocks at the Military Hospital.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana & Josephine Atagana