The leadership of the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) has commended the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo for the efforts taken so far in bringing about a lasting peace and security in the Niger Delta region.
A release signed by Aldo Agbalaja, spokesperson of the group and made available to newsmen titled, “we are quietly watching developments” however noted that the movement was only observing ceasefire in order to give the Nigeria government the benefit of doubt to fulfill all its promises made in the course of the ongoing stakeholders’ meetings in the oil producing communities.
“While we watch we have observe the sensible steps being taken so far by the acting president, Yemi Osibajo to convince the Niger Delta of his administration ‘s sincerity in finding genuine peace in our region. At least, he has shown some effort and is making an attempt, unlike his boss who has not hidden his disdain and disrespect for our people”, he said.
Agbalaja however advised the acting president to make good his promise by undertaking another visit to the oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region with a bid to discuss with youths of the region especially those in the upland areas of the Niger Delta states.
He added that the group only chose to be quiet in the past weeks to observe how things unfold in the region and to give the Nigerian government the benefit of doubt.
He noted that the movement was not dead, neither is its spirit quelled but only in a process of repositioning for better impacts.
The group also described the efforts of the Acting President to restore peace in the Niger Delta as one-sided noting that will be counter-productive.
“Also during the period of our quietness a lot of things have happened that are forming parts of the reasons for our future line of actions. We have seen how the acting president goofed in his so-called interactions with Niger Delta stakeholders.
“We saw how he failed to see that the Niger Delta does not belong to just one set of people, how he continued in the error of those before him, gave all the attention to only Ijaw people, especially in Delta state. He started out on a faulty note, which if not corrected, will make the situation worse.
“Divide and rule will not work, if the people of the upland part of the region are not treated with same level of respect as those in the creeks, there will never be security for the oil assets you so much cherish.
“Give unto every community what is due to it, without imposing any group over another; Ijaw is not superior to other oil producing communities across the Niger Delta”, he added.
He however commended the federal government for directing oil companies to relocate its headquarters back to the Niger Delta states pointing out that it only makes sense for the farmer to dwell near his farm.
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