Ex-creek warlords at the weekend called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently look into the 16-point demand presented to him since November 2016 by leaders and elders of the Niger Delta under the auspices of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
“They, however, commended Buhari for directing a forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), but him that the peace in the Niger Delta remained fragile until the demands were met.
The ex-militants under the auspices of the 21st Century Youths of Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience (21st CYNDAC) also decried the continued vilification of Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), saying it was creating tension in the oil-rich region.
The PANDEF leaders, including a former Federal Information Commissioner, Edwin Clark, and a former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Victor Attah, had while presenting the proposals to the President argued that they would help restore peace to and spur development of the oil-rich region.
The Leader of the ex-militants, Izon Ebi, in a statement titled, “without justice, there will be no peace”, said the Democracy Day speech of the President reassured the region that despite the ongoing shenanigans, the ongoing forensic audit of NDDC would be concluded by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the commission’s Interim Management Committee (IMC).
Ebi said the speech further confirmed that the synergy between the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the IMC was paying off and called on them to continue to act as bulwarks against economic vampires ravaging the NDDC.
He said the region was particularly impressed by Buhari’s assertions that the East-West road and the permanent headquarters of NDDC would soon be completed.
Ebi said: “With this insight, it is pertinent to note that the synergy of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the NDDC is bearing the desired fruit for the Niger Delta and its people. It is also pertinent to note that our clamour for adequate supervision of the NDDC by the Ministry of Niger Delta affairs have succeeded to an extent in keeping the economic buccaneers of the commission at bay.
“Mr. President’s speech was a vote of confidence in them as regards their quest to positively position the commission for optimum service delivery and as such, they should not be deterred or intimidated by the activities of their traducers, they should rev up the momentum to bring the much needed succour to the region and its people.
“In as much as we commend Mr. President for his positive response of the wanton looting in the NDDC, we also implore him to look at the 16-point demand of the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum PANDEF, these demands are intrinsic to the sustainable peace in the Niger Delta which is the cash cow of the nation. The present peace obtained in the region is peace of the graveyard and it is not sustainable.
“The continued vilification of Tompolo does not resonate positively in the majority of the Niger Delta people as most people see it more as political victimization despite his numerous contributions to the peace and development of the Niger Delta, for example the maritime university Akerenkoko, and numerous philanthropic gestures, most especially during this COVID 19 period. We urge Mr President to take a more holistic look at these issues and bring sustainable solutions to them”.
Ebi added: “We implore the minister of Niger Delta affairs Senator Godswill Akpabio to continue his role as a bulwark against the onslaught of those economic vampires in the commission.
“Also, we want the minister to know that his antecedent as an uncommon performer preludes his appointment into the ministry. Such uncommon performance and nothing less is expected of him in his new endeavour. We assure Mr president and the nation of our unalloyed support in the quest to move our region to a more equitable destination”.