President Muhammadu Buhari’s claim to be in talks with Niger Delta militants, including the notorious Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), has been described as a manifestation of the president’s insincerity, as there had been no established contact yet.
President Buhari had on Thursday, during a farewell meeting with the outgoing German Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Zinner, said his administration was in talks with the armed insurgents in the Niger Delta, through security agents and oil companies operating in the region.
But the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), as well as the most vocal of the insurgent groups in the region, NDA, claimed President Buhari’s claim was insincere and aimed at deceiving Nigerians and the international community.
While the Avengers, in a statement by its spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, denied being in any talks with the federal government, the IYC, in a statement circulated by its spokesman, Eric Omare, expressed at the president’s claim to using foreigners (oil companies) to negotiate on the nation’s behalf.
The Avengers, in the statement, said it stood by its earlier decision not to be involved in any negotiation with the federal government in any talk that would not involve the international community.
“Our attention has been drawn to media report that the President is in touch with Niger Delta agitators including the Niger Delta Avengers, but the truth is that we are not aware of any peace talk.
“If we are to engage in any peace talk we made it clear that the international community must be part of it. The President knows our demands. So they should stop deceiving the international oil companies, the general public and the international community.
“If there is any such peace talk, it means the President is talking to their mercenaries set to disturb the genuine struggle of the agitators. President Buhari led government is not sincere to the Nigeria people and their foreign allies”, it said.
IYC, in its statement yesterday, charged the Buhari administration to borrow a leaf from its predecessors and seek an all-encompassing talks with the peoples of the oil-rich region.
“The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide says that President Buhari and the federal government of Nigeria should stop deceiving Nigerians and the international community about talks with Niger Delta militants on how to stop attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta region. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Chai, this is that awkward moment when Buhari's credibility goes south
ReplyDeleteMtchewwwe who cares
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