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N’Delta Youth Peace, Security Confab, Soon …President, Nine Govs, Others Expected
Barring last minute changes, all is now set for the convening of the conference of the Supreme Niger Delta Youth Council Worldwide (SNDYCW) this month to address the critical issues causing tension and angst in the Niger Delta.
The SNDYCW, said yesterday that the event, conceptualised as the “First Niger Delta Youth Peace, Unity, Security, Reconciliation and Empowerment Conference”, will hold in Benin City, the Edo State capital, September 28 – 30, 2016.
National President, SNDYCW, Prince Michael Newgent Ekamon, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, made available to The Tide, explained that the conference was designed as a convergence of stakeholder youth groups to harness dialogue rather than show of force against the Federal Government in resolving the Niger Delta question.
The conference, facilitated by Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani; Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu; and Coordinator and Special Adviser, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen Paul Boroh, has as its theme: Eradication of Youth Restiveness in the Nine Niger Delta States Through Economic Empowerment as Mechanism for Sustainable and Rapid Development of the Region”.
Ekamon explained that while the “Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has graciously accepted to be the chief host for the conference which holds from September 28-30, 2016, from 10 am each day, governors from the other eight states are equally co-chief hosts.
“We expect, President Muhammadu Buhari to grace the conference as chief guest of honour. We are expecting international guests, international observers and other stakeholders. Other details will be announced as soon as there are perfected,” Ekamon emphasised.
According to the statement, the group will use the platform to push the Federal Government to show serious commitment to the sustainable peace and development of the Niger Delta region, and urged those who have branded themselves as militants and violent agitators to embrace dialogue and table their grievances on the table at the forum.
It particularly called on the Niger Delta Avengers, and other criminal elements in the region to toe the path of dialogue and negotiate with the Federal Government rather than resort to the destruction of the precious environment and ecosystems of the region in the name of efforts to ground the government, insisting that the long-term negative impact of their action would affect the present and future generations of the region more than the government and other Nigerians.
The group also dismissed Chief Edwin Clark’s claim as leader of the Niger Delta, saying that Clark was only the leader of some people of Ijaw stock, and not the entire Niger Delta.
“The so-called Niger Delta Avengers should be regarded as economic criminals and prosecuted”, Ekamon said, adding that, “We cannot continue doing things in the same old ways and expect changes.
“The presence of Chief Edwin Clark claiming to be chief negotiator for this faceless group is equally exasperating and offensive to the sensibilities of all right thinking Niger Deltans. We, members of SNDYCW reject him completely”
“We, Niger Delta youth cannot sit by and watch our common wealth being frittered away to serve the interest of a few. Clark should rather be telling us what he and our so-called other leaders had been doing with Federal Government interventions in the Niger Delta so far”, Ekamon maintained.
Ekamon, equally dismissed the alleged choice of Prof. Wole Soyinka and former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu as negotiators for the Niger Delta Avengers.
“We respect the fact that Prof Wole Soyinka is a literary figure and international personality, but we are not aware of his empathy or passion for the Niger Delta region.
As for Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, the man is an interloper and an inconsistent politician. Therefore, we do not see how these two gentlemen can adequately represent the Niger Delta. They do not have Niger Delta in mind; they have never been interested in the Niger Delta, so how can they understand the people’s pains and grievances. Selecting these two to represent them makes the motives of the Niger Delta Avengers suspicious”, Ekamon added.
He, therefore, urged all aggrieved Niger Deltans, including those who call themselves agitators or militants, to take advantage of the opportunity to ventilate their views on the way forward for the region.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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