Oscarline Onwuemenyi 14 November 2016, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Ijaw National Congress, INC, has called on the Federal Government to implement past reports on the Niger Delta instead of initiating fresh talks over crises in the region.
Speaking against the backdrop of the recent dialogue between government and a socio-political group, Pan-Niger Delta Forum, INC President, Charles Alabo Harris, contended that previous documents had effectively captured the fundamental issues confronting the oil-rich region.
He stated that “the best solution would be to treat the causative factors rather than dealing with the resultant effects. I don’t even understand the need for fresh dialogue.
“There is nothing about the fundamental issues in the Niger Delta that had not been previously captured from the Willinks through to the Ogomudia, Ledum Mitee Technical Committee reports, and the last constitutional conference. What is missing and had always been missing is the political will to implement,” he remarked.
Harris alleged that the ongoing negotiation was a ploy by the government to further occupy the region.
Meanwhile, an activist and chief executive of Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, EFCDF, in Delta State, Chief Michael Johnny, said the recent talks between the Federal government and Niger Delta leaders failed, accusing the negotiators of selfishness.
He told reporters that the 13 per cent derivation should be given directly to the communities instead of the governors.
“Nothing new was discussed at the stakeholders’ meeting with the President. Our leaders went for dialogue when guns are still in the hands of the militants who have been blowing up oil facilities in the region,” he stated.
Johnny appealed for the establishment of naval bases at strategic locations and provision of telecommunication services in the riverine communities to check attacks on oil installations.
