The Ijaw
national leader, Chief Edwin Clark has said any dialogue between the
federal government and militants in the Niger Delta would not yield
result without involvement of Ijaw leaders.
Clark stated this on Saturday, July 30, 2016 during the Ijaw leaders consultative council meeting which included the Bayelsa governor, Seriake Dickson and Delta deputy governor, Kingsley Otuaro in Warri.
The meeting was aimed at reaching common ground on the renewed militancy and its impact in the Niger Delta and Nigeria.
Clark in his opening remark in the
meeting held behind close door said it was not the first time this kind
of crisis was happening.
“In 2008 and 2009 similar incident happened and Gbaramatu was affected. We elders and leaders intervened and we got Amnesty.
“Today we hear that federal government is planning, already talking or negotiating with militants and nobody has consulted us.
“That will not work. These children are our children and we cannot
fold our hands when they are being attacked and pretend not to notice.“We must be involved in what government wants to do,” Chief Clark said.
At the end of the closed door meeting the consultative forum of Ijaw leaders drew a communique and made available to newsmen.
The communique read, “The Elders and
Leaders of thoughts of the Ijaw nation call for the immediate
restructuring of the Nigerian nation along the lines of peaceful
federalism.
“As panacea for the sustainable development of Nigeria.
“As a demonstration of sincerity of
commitment to dialogue, FG should immediately withdraw the military from
all occupied Ijaw communities, particularly Gbaramatu kingdom.’’
The meeting also called on the FG to immediately release the 10 innocent students of Gbaramatu kingdom.
“The meeting also condemn the move to
scrap the Nigerian Maritime University approved by the preceding FG with
temporary site at Kurutie and call for the immediate takeoff of the
university.
“The forum also urged the militant
groups of the Niger Delta to cease further attacks on crude oil and gas
facilities and embrace the dialogue offered by the federal government.’’
(NAN)
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