Groups fear a declaration of a Republic of Niger Delta by
militants may make matters worse for the people of the
region.
Groups in the Niger Delta region have expressed fears that
the plans by militants group, the Adaka Boro Avengers
(ABA), to declare a Republic of Niger Delta on August 1,
2016, may make matters worse for the people of the
region.
The groups, Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-
Corruption Crusade (FHRACC) and the Centre for Peace
and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), in a separate
statements in Warri, said the plans by the militants do not
enjoy the support of right-thinking indigenes of the region.
According to Vanguard, the national president of FHRACC,
Alaowei Cleric, described the move by the militants to
declare Niger Delta Republic on the August 1, as against
the agitation of the region.
He said: “The foundation of the struggle is well captured in
the various declarations by the ethnic nationalities in the
region such as the Kaiama Declaration, the Ogoni Bill of
Rights, etc. Although all the declarations anchored their
demands on self-determination within the Nigerian
federation, none of them proposed to declare Niger Delta
as an independent state from Nigeria.
“Niger Deltans are requesting for economic and political
autonomy within the Nigerian state. If the militants are
fighting for the genuine cause of the region, then they
should not make matters worse for the people. If an
independent Niger Delta Republic should be an option, then
they must use civilized means to pursue their agenda.”
Similarly, the coordinator of CEPEJ, Sheriff Mulade, called
on Adaka Boro Avengers to abort their alleged plan to
declare Niger Delta Republic because Niger Deltans do not
support it.
Mulade who admitted that that successive government
neglected, deprived and underdeveloped the region despite
of her huge contributions to the national economy,
however implored the militants to take advantage of the
federal government’s dialogue because no meaningful
development can take place in a rancorous environment.
He said: “What we need now is constructive engagement
with the Federal Government since President Buhari has
considered dialogue as the best option to engage the
stakeholders and find a lasting solution to the lingering
quest for development.”
Meanwhile, t he Movement for the Emancipation of the
Niger Delta (MEND) has warned the chief of army staff, Lt
General Tukur Buratai, to guard his utterances and stop
making political and inciting statements regarding the
restiveness in the Niger Delta region.
MEND, speaking on the background of statement credited
to Buratai that the Nigerian Army would use force if
current efforts to dialogue with the militants in the Niger
Delta region fail, said the statement by the army chief was
inflammatory.