N’Delta Leaders Lament FG’s Neglect

Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, frontline Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark and some other prominent leaders, including traditional rulers of Ijaw nation drawn from the seven Niger Delta states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Rivers, at the weekend, met in Warri, Delta State, over the renewed militancy in the region, and expressed regret that the Federal Government was systematically alienating the region.
The meeting, which was convened at the instance of elder statesman and former federal information commissioner, Edwin Clark, was held behind closed doors, after journalists were excused from partaking in the deliberations, which was also attended by the Delta State Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro.
A communiqué, issued at the end of the meeting and read by Pastor Power Ziakede Aginighan, accused President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government of perceived plans to neglect and alienate Ijaw people from the scheme of things in the country.
The communiqué, signed by the former federal information commissioner, and others, said it was only dialogue that can resolve the present crisis in the region.
The Ijaw leaders argued that in the interest of peace, the Federal Government should immediately withdraw military personnel from Gbaramatu Kingdom while the proposed discussion by government takes off.
The meeting also called on Ijaw militant groups to cease forthwith plans to declare Niger Delta Republic by today, noting that Ijaw nation believed that through restructuring, the various crisis bedevilling the country could be resolved, including the Niger Delta problem.
Excerpts of the communiqué read: “The Elders and Leaders of Thought of the Ijaw nation call for the immediate restructuring of the Nigerian nation along the lines of fiscal federalism, and insist that this is the panacea for the sustainable development of Nigeria.
“As a demonstration of sincerity of commitment to dialogue, the Federal Government should immediately withdraw the military from all occupied Ijaw communities, particularly Gbaramatu Kingdom. The meeting also calls on the Federal Government to immediately release the 10 innocent students of Gbaramatu Kingdom.
“The meeting passed a vote of confidence on the Chief Boma Obuoforibo-led leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC). We condemn the move to scrap the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, approved by the preceding Federal Government with temporary site at Kurutie, and call for the immediate take-off of the university.”
According to the communique, “The non-inclusive policies of the present administration, has led to the alienation of some components of the federation, particularly the Ijaw nation from the mainstream of national development, we, therefore, call on Mr. President to redress this ugly state of affairs.”