WARRI- The Ijaw Youths council world-wide has said that the threat to resume bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is inspired by the Federal Government’s cynical attitudes towards the plight of the people.
National President of Ijaw youths council (IYC) Barr. Pereotubo Oweilaemi made the disclosure following Avengers threat for violence in a pree statement made available toDaily Watch, said ‘‘This is not the first, second, third or the fourth time the militants are threatening to resume hostilities. The economy would have been bleeding had the leaders of the region did not prevailed on the agitators to give the Government the benefit of doubt.
‘‘IYC as the mother body of the youths in Ijaw land and foremost organisation in the region has run out of words of consolation to appease the aggrieved youths. It is regrettable that, while we keep on appealing to the youths to maintain calm and allow the Government to unveil its blueprint for the region, the Government’s indifference to the plight of the people amidst the agitations for its attention is the greatest undoing.
‘‘It becomes clear to every discerning mind that the Buhari led-government is only playing politics to the crisis in the region. How can you now say the Maritime University at Okerenkoko is yet to commence academic session after all the promises. Was it not this institution that the Government promised to take off academic activities by October last year? What annoying most is that even employment of junior staffs have not been carried out yet it declared a fake took off of academic session. What a pity?
‘‘Most surprising to us while the above is the issues to be discussed, the Attorney-General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN connived with the Itsekiri people to write a vexatious and provocative letter to the National Assembly demanding to change the name of the institution from Okerenkoko to Okerenghigho. Even when it is clear to a blind man that what Malami and his co-travellers tend to achieve is to frustrate the take off of the school, President Buhari has not taken any step to call the marauding AGF to order. Is this not an endorsement of the latter’s action?’’ the statement said.
It continued ‘‘As a member of PANDEF, we don’t know what group has to advise the militants when the same Government is also fighting to break the ranks and files of the umbrella body in the region in order to give the leaders’ well-encompassing 16 point demands with a wave of hand. Honestly, we don’t know who should stand for the Government to appeal to the youths to sheath their swords.
‘‘Another grievous economic crime committed by the present Government against the Niger Delta people is President Buhari’s new year message where he consigned the agitations for restructuring in the dustbin. No Niger Delta man is happy with the President’s preference for process instead of structure in tackling the nation’s socio-political development. Restructuring remains the only viable solution to the socio-political and economic crisis in Nigeria. The Country cannot survive in the midst of its growing problems without restructuring.
‘‘The only way to avert the impending the economic Holocaust awaiting the oil industry is for the Government to be responsive to the needs of the people, especially the issue of development and restructuring and true federalism. We do not see any sense for the Government to hastily approve $1b to fight insurgents in the North East while leaves the region where you get the money in squalor. Niger Delta also needs the same quantum of money or more to address the ecological problems and the sessional floodings that have been ravaging all the riverine communities across the region.’’ The statement said.
