Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark has warned President Muhammadu Buhari to follow the footsteps of his predecessors in handling the upsurge in militancy in Niger Delta.
Clark said the President needed to dialogue to resolve the crisis, instead of applying military might, since the nation’s military had been over-stretched in recent operations.
The Ijaw leader also advised members of the Niger Delta Avenger (NDA) to retrace their steps and embrace dialogue.
He noted that violence never served any good purpose.
Clark, who addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja on the rising militancy in Niger Delta, urged former militant leaders, like Tom Ateke and Boyloaf, to quell the crisis.
The Ijaw leader said the recent attacks on pipelines were not in the interest of the region and its residents.
He said it was economically wrong to destroy government infrastructure because they also have direct effects on the people and the environment.
Clark called for a meeting of Ijaw leaders from the six coastal states, including the executives of Ijaw National congress (INC) and Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) Worldwide to discuss what he called the unpatriotic and dangerous upsurge in Niger Delta.
The elder statesman, who said the activities of the Avengers could be quickly resolved, if the President opened a channel of discussions, added: “At this point, I turn to the leaders of our governments, especially President Buhari, to emulate his predecessors and embrace dialogue on the current perplexing issues threatening the peace, possibly the existence, of our dear country.
“How many war theatres can our very limited number of military and security personnel be deployed at the same time? How effective can they be against Boko Haram, IPOB/MASSOB, Fulani herdsmen, kidnappers and, now, Niger Delta Avengers and their likes?
“Violence, even against violence, is not, has never been, the answer. Dialogue is! Let’s all embrace dialogue as the best and only means to achieve an equitable society in which everyone feels a sense of belonging and patriotic commitment.
“I repeat here, as always, that this country belongs to everyone. We have no other country than Nigeria. No one should be treated as first or as second-class citizen, causing some to take up arms to assert their rightful status.”
Clark distanced himself and other well-meaning Nigerians from Niger Delta Avengers’ phantom sovereign existence from Nigeria.
He said: “Nevertheless, it beats my imagination to hear that this so-called Niger Delta Avengers have the effrontery to say that they are designing a flag, a currency and a passport for display, in October, of a phantom sovereign existence from Nigeria. What nonsense!
“What has changed, when? All that they are complaining about have been the same for a long time. We have been discussing these issues, asking for redress, for as long as I have been in the public arena, up till today, including the six years of national leadership of one of our own.”
The Ijaw leader called for an immediate cessation of violence.
He added: “I call on this group, the Niger Delta Avengers, and all persons and groups, who feel aggrieved in the country, to shun violence and seek dialogue, no matter how petulant the perceived adversaries may be. I want to warn all the so-called militants, by whatever new names they want to assume, to energetically take up their own responsibilities, as enshrined in the Amnesty Agreement.
“The reintegrating militants were tasked to ensure that there would be no more destructive leakages. They were subsequently accommodated in the pipelines security schemes, though, to be fair, administered in a very haphazard manner, leading to many of the erstwhile militants feeling short-changed.”
Clark urged Ateke and other former militant leaders to “go into the creeks and meet with those threatening the peace and security of the Niger Delta with a view to bringing about peaceful resolution of whatever grievance they may have”. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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ReplyDeleteSir, may be the avengers need $7b contract this time.
ReplyDeleteSir, they looked after the pipelines during Jonathan's regime. If you line the military from Rivers to Lagos, they will either join in the vandalization or at best cannot prevent the vandalization. It's easier to build than to destroy. Vandalization takes a few minutes. Yes they can give them a contract to watch the pipes running hrough their area
DeleteThis country is fast coming to an end from the look of things.
ReplyDeleteno doubt about it that clark is one of the militants God father for asking federal government to aaddress the issue like his predecessor cause that is one of the means pdp is using to steal from nigeria and now he is asking for continuity
ReplyDeletePlease leave niger delta oil to them and let us either starve or find something else. They have suffered and fed us enough and we fail to find other means from all the other blessings we have. What a nation a laughing stock to the world and a disappointment to the black race. Now they will send army to massacre innocent people.
ReplyDeleteWe're gonna have a whole lot of dialogues in future, we have the avengers right now, very soon we would have the gladiators, gangsters, cartel etc all looking to make money from our situation. We are really in a big trouble, I pray for this country
ReplyDeleteTHE NIGER DELTA REAl ISSUE:
ReplyDelete" Ultimatum to IBB, OBJ, Danjuma, Atiku and others to Vacate Oil Fields. Else…
"Some confused elements from the region are calling the Niger Delta Avengers names, some are calling us criminals. Our question to these groups of individuals calling us names are; where were you when all these atrocities were happening to the people of the Niger Delta? IT’S A PITY".
"To owners and operators of these oil blocs in our region the Niger Delta Avengers is giving you two weeks ultimatum to shut down your operations and evacuates your staff. If at the end of the ultimatum and you still operating. We will blow up all the locations. It will be bloody. So just shut down your operations and leave.
There is rumor that oil has been discovered in the North East. How will you feel if this found oil is been managed by Niger Deltans. We are very sure the Niger deltans won't even have 2% oil bloc if oil is really found in the Northeast. If you didn’t shut down we will shut your stations permanently for you".
1. Apo Well was award to Sapetro Oil owned by Gen Theophilus Y Danjuma .Apo field is capable of producing 300,000 barrels per day and crude reserve of 500 million barrels.
2. OML 110 Obe oil field own by Alhaji Mai Daribe, Cavendish Petroleum with an estimated 500 million barrel of crude oil that worth $50 billion dollars after tax.
3. Akpo condensate field was awarded to Sapetro Oil owned by Gen Theophilus Y Danjuma. This field worth $100 billions of dollars.
4. OML 112 and OML 117 were awarded to AMNI International Petroleum Development Company owned by Colonel Sanni Bello. Son inlaw to former Head of State. Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar. Its worth $150 Dollars after tax.
5. OML 115 also known as Oldwok field and Ebok field was awarded to Alhaji Mohammed Indimi. Inlaw to former Head of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida the two fields worth $200 billion Dollars.
6. OML 215 was awarded and operated by Nor East Petroleum Limited owned by one Alhali Saleh Mohammed Gambo. The field worth $100 billion Dollars after tax.
7. OML 108 awarded to Express Petroleum Company owned by Alhaji Aminu Dantata. This field worth $128 billion Dollars.
8. OML 113 was allocated to Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Limited owned by Alhaji W. I. Folawiyo. Net worth is $150 billion Dollars.
9. Prince Nasiru Ado Bayero cousin to the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanisu, owns ASUOKPU/UMUTU marginal oil fields. It worth $110 billion Dollars.
10. Inter is owned by Atiku Abubakar, Yara dua and Ado Bayero has a substantial stakes in the oil and gas exploration in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.
11. AMNI International Petroleum Company owns OML 112 and OML 117. Former Minister of Petroleum and OPEC Chairman Rilwanu Lukman has major stakes in AMNI International Petroleum Company.
12. OML 67 is operated Afren Plc. Rilwanu lukman also has a major stakes and the field worth $180 billion Dollars.
13. OPL 245 is awarded to Malabu Oil and Gas owned by Dan Etete. Former President Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abukbakar all has major shares. It worth $50 billion Dollars.
14. OPL 289 and OPL 233 was awarded to Cleanwater Consortium, the two fields worth $200 billion Dollars. Former Governor Peter Odili of River State, Obasanjo and Sultan of Sokoto has major Stakes.
15. OPL 288 was awarded to focus Energy Senator Andy Uba, Obasanjo, and Gen Theophilus Y Danjuma are the major stakeholders. The field worth $70 billion Dollars.
16. OPL 291 was awarded to Starcrest Energy Nigeria Limited owned by Emeka Offor. The field worth $100 billion Dollars.
17. Mike adenuga’s Conoil controls and operates Six (6) oil blocs and exports about 500,000 barrels of crude oil daily. These 6 oil bloc worth $500 billion Dollars.
From the analysis above, 90% oil blocs are allocated to individuals from northern Nigeria."
We need a revolution.
DeleteWhy are we forcing our self to be one, where the truth is standing before us that we can never be one!!!
ReplyDelete