Ex-Agitators Tackle FG Over East/West Rd, Ogoni Clean-Up

A coalition of ex-militants group, Council for Mass Action in the Niger Delta has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of deliberatly neglecting the Niger Delta region since he came to power, saying it was paying lip service to the Clean-up of Ogoni land in Rivers State.
The group in online statement issued by its spokesman, Godswill Tamuno and tittled ‘A Clarion Call for the Redemption and Salvation of the Niger Delta’ and made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, also accused the federal government of not adequately funding the presidential amnesty programme.
While alleging that the incumbent federal administration has not initiated any new project in the oil and gas rich area, the group expressed worry that previous on-going projects such as the East West Road that was nearing completion has been abandoned by the present government.
The council further alleged that over $6.4 billion had been spent on intervention programmes in the North Eastern region of Nigeria and called the attention of the international community and people of the region to ill treatment meted out to the area that produces the wealth of the nation.
The council for Mass Action in the Niger Delta stated that militant groups in the area may be compelled to renege on all previous agreements if the neglect of the region continuous.
The statement reads, “We wish to call the attention of all people of the Niger Delta, the international community and all men of goodwill, to the increasingly poor treatment that the Niger Delta and its people has been receiving from the government of President Muhammadu Buhari since his inauguration as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 2015.
”For three whole years and counting, the government of General Muhammadu Buhari, has deliberately launched a campaign to subdue, neglect and abandon the Niger Delta.
“There has been no new project and no new vision for the Niger Delta. In fact, old projects such as the East West Road that was reaching completion stage has been recklessly abandoned.
”Old ongoing programmes such as the Presidential Amnesty Programme has been largely neglected and abandoned.
”Instead, resources from the Niger Delta are being channeled to fund interventionist programmes in North East Nigeria much to the chagrin to former militants and combatant elements in the Niger Delta.
”More than $6.4 billion has been spent on intervention programmes in the North Eastern region of Nigeria. A $2 billion Refinery project is being planned for the border town of Mashi in President Buhari’s home state of Katsina. The refinery project will also include a multi-billion dollar pipeline that will run from Katsina state to Niger Republic.
”It does not matter that the old Kaduna refinery, which was built for billions of naira sourced from the Niger Delta has today failed. Also a multi-billion dollar railway line is also being planned to run from Daura, President Buhari’s home town to Maradi in Niger State through the Nigerian – Nigerien border town of Jibia, among others. Yet, the same Federal Government continues to complain of lack of funds to prosecute the Clean-Up of Ogoni land and complete the East West Road.
”Should we therefore assume that because the people of the Niger Delta have chosen the path of dialogue and peace, the Buhari regime has turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the development of the Niger Delta region?
”The Presidential Amnesty Programme, which was designed to cater for former agitating elements in the Niger Delta, has been completely abandoned with funding almost completely stopped. Should our people therefore reject the Amnesty Programme and declare an end to the truce with the Nigerian state?
The statement further said the continued neglect of the region has resulted in increased insecurity there and a rise in the establishment of illegal oil refineries with an attendant increase in environmental pollution.
”There is continued increased in poverty, pain, hardship and squalor. Communities who produce oil and gas are even worse hit. We therefore call on all groups in the Niger Delta to rise up to the new challenge. If the Presidential Amnesty Programme cannot be properly funded and catered for, then our people will reject it and all former combatants will renege on all existing agreements.
”If the resources of the Niger Delta cannot be used to improve the quality of life of our people, then there will be no need for fight for peace in the Niger Delta. It will amount to full blown debauchery if we sit back and allow the exploitation of the Niger Delta to continue while our people are given a cold shoulder by the Buhari government.
”The time has come for all men of goodwill to return to the drawing board. It is time to redeem, rescue and salvage the Niger Delta. We call on all former agitating groups in the Niger Delta to come together and chart a new way forward,” the statement reads.

By: Denis Nnku.