Develop Niger Delta or there won’t be peace, ex-militants tell Buhari
on september 12, 2015 at 12:35
•Group wants security agencies cautioned over Tompolo
By Emma Amaize & Akpokona Omafuaire
FORMER Militants in the Niger Delta under the Third Phase Group has called on the Federal Government to aggressively pursue development of the Niger Delta to forestall another crisis in the region. The former militants, who flayed the actions of former Presidential Adviser to the President  on the Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, said that the call is timely as such failure in the past led to increase in militancy and unrest, which caused drastic drop in national earning.

millitants
They warned the current handlers to be mindful of what plagued the Kuku regime, claiming that the amnesty programme was a huge failure under its immediate past coordinator, Kuku.
The Ex-militants call was contained in a joint statement by National Chairman, Diepreye Ogbetebe; Vice Chairman, John Government; Secretary, Etarighobe Thompson and Delta State Chairman, Prince Ogor.
They spoke as another Niger Delta group, Egbema Voice in Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call security agencies  employing state apparatus to terrorize and harm the reputation of ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, to order.
The ex-militants said:  “The Programme under Kuku specifically failed as a result of mismanagement of funds allocated for the programme by the Federal Government. Five groups under the third phase were marginalized and there were malicious diversion and deprivation of genuine and real persons that surrendered their arms and ammunition for which the slots were legitimately approved for.”
They also listed “incompetent, corrupt and unfair representation of Phase III by the so called self-imposed national leaders, deprivation/non-documentation of some of the ex-militants during the documentation exercise handled by inter-agency task forces in the various JTF barracks” as factors that hallmarked the past regime.
The group said that proper verification of arms and ammunition surrendered by various groups and war lords was not done before the allocation and disbursement of the 3642 slots to commence the Phase III of the programme.
“Despite the infinitesimal amount of the 3642 slots approved for Phase III, most of the camps that surrendered less than 20 guns were given up to 50 slots while some of the camps that surrendered above 50 guns were given three slots due to malicious diversion of slots,’’ they said.
Urging the current coordinator of the amnesty programme to look into the issues of ex-militant leaders and their foot followers in the Niger Delta region who were not documented, they said that such neglect was what led to frequent vandalization of pipelines and crude oil facilities in the region by various action groups in Ijaw and the rising Urhobo Gbagbako group.
They also called for immediate payment of all outstanding allowances to its leaders as well as train and engage them with gainful employments to reform and create a conducive environment for the  nation.
Call security agencies to order
Meantime, the  Egbema Voice, in a statement by Chief Wilfred Elebiri and two others, said: “In as much as we are not opposed to the anti-corruption crusade of this government, we sincerely and will wholeheartedly condemn and fight any person or group of persons that will use the state paraphernalia to intimidate and humiliate our High Chief or any Niger Deltan.”
It continued: “We are making the call because the man, High Chief Ekpemupolo has not done anything that warrants such barbaric action. He is a leader in the Niger Delta with strong followership and he is committed to the freedom, justice, fairness and equal rights. Therefore, we cannot sit and watch while these group of people, all in the name of political vengeance, bring the name of our brother and the people of Niger Delta to disrepute.”
It said the actions of the agents/agencies of the administration, so far, were merely to discredit any person or persons perceived to be on the other side of the divide, adding, “these actions are deliberately targeted at the peace-loving people of Niger Delta whose resources these oligarchy has been feeding on all along.http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/buhari-using-appointments-to-correct-marginalisation-of-north-dauda-birmah/

They have my backing

Mr body language is playing with fire.

In as much as i wont support an under developed Niger Delta, abeg make una jeje dey do am cous d kind akara-bomb wey amelica don give Buhari fit go house to house they kill.

You didn't issue this threat when a niger delta man was the president for 6 years ....



You must be a joker

Lol Park Well

we all know that the amnesty program of Gej administration was a FRAUD.

I believe Buhari will come up with a better developmental program for the niger deltans.

menix:
In as much as i wont support an under developed Niger Delta, abeg make una jeje dey do am cous d kind akara-bomb wey amelica don give Buhari fit go house to house they kill.

Lolz is that what you think? What is stopping him from using it on boko haram?

Godfullsam:
we all know that the amnesty program of Gej administration was a FRAUD.

I believe Buhari will come up with a better developmental program for the niger deltans.

Not if he intends to implement the 97% and 5% allocation formula he has already announced.

While I acknowledge that it is the job of the government to bring development to every region.. hey!, can these bunch of lunatics called ex-criminals just keep their mouth shut

A word is enough for the wise

bigFOOTcaveMAN:
They have my backing

Who are you?.. an ordinary lowlife

I'll have prefer the media to address them as a Niger delta group instead. Calling them militant group signifies giving credence to criminality. As far as Nigeria is concerned militancy has been proscribed by the amnesty. so genuine agitation should be address but selfish and unscrupulous agitation by chest beaters should not be tolerated.

Were they sleeping when all Jonathan could do is pay them some coins?

Buhari will do his best for the Niger Delta region and the rest of Nigeria. All these useless threats will not benefit anyone (especially the good people of Niger Delta. They have the opportunity to work with Buhari to bring lasting peace and development to the region or follow hatred and turn their communities to a war zone.

Peace and progress is all we need. Not rust chest beating.

OK I will tell him

OtunbaJega:
While I acknowledge that it is the job of the government to bring development to every region.. hey!, can these bunch of lunatics called ex-criminals just keep their mouth shut

Another Dullard

chukwudi44:

Lolz is that what you think? What is stopping him from using it on boko haram?

Would u strike ur scrotum cous an insect perched on it?

Their PAPAS! Nonsense and ingredients!

May God help us

Tomorrow they will be calling the international community to help them beg Buhari. If they cannot hold people like GEJ, Orubebe and co for the under develop of their region, they should just behave mature before they begin shout of abuse. Who do anyhow we see anyhow for JTF hand.

egift:
Were they sleeping when all Jonathan could do is pay them some coins?

Buhari will do his best for the Niger Delta region and the rest of Nigeria. All these useless threats will not benefit anyone (especially the good people of Niger Delta. They have the opportunity to work with Buhari to bring lasting peace and development to the region or follow hatred and turn their communities to a war zone.

Peace and progress is all we need. Not rust chest beating.

Well lets hope Buhari does implement 50-50 formula rather than the 97-5 he said he would do.You do not expect people to remain quiet if 97% of their income are used to develop other regions while theirs are neglected!!! It is only natural for anyone to react in duch situations.

Calm down my Niger-delta brothers;no need to cry. Leave the crying and wailing for the yeegbos.

They think we are still in the era of that clueless one who couldn't differentiate left from right, better ask OBJ about Odi and Zaki Biam. Our general is not a weakling like the drunk from Otuoke, he'll take you guys one by one if you try any crap. The guy no dey smile o.
You couldn't tell GEJ to develop the area but threatening now, if you do anyhow you go see anyhow

madridguy:
Tomorrow they will be calling the international community to help them beg Buhari. If they cannot hold people like GEJ, Orubebe and co for the under develop of their region, they should just behave mature before they begin shout of abuse. Who do anyhow we see anyhow for JTF hand.

Bros remember we have gone this route before? I do not remember the JTF having the upperhand.For the sake of our country,i hope peace reigns because we dont have the economy and army to sustain two insurgencies in the country at the moment.

Yeske2:
They think we are still in the era of that clueless one who couldn't differentiate left from right, better ask OBJ about Odi and Zaki Biam. Our general is not a weakling like the drunk from Otuoke, he'll take you guys one by one if you try any crap. The guy no dey smile o.
You couldn't tell GEJ to develop the area but threatening now, if you do anyhow you go see anyhow

We have been waiting to see this side of the General for the last four months but all i have seen are mere propaganda as boko haram keeps killing innocent Nigerians on daily basis.

They won't be peace In their house not my beautiful naija

menix:


Would u strike ur scrotum cous an insect perched on it?

In other words you are implying that Buhari has deliberately allowed the boko haram crisis to escalate because he dosent want to clamp down so heavily on his kinsmen?

chukwudi44:


We have been waiting to see this side of the General for the last four months but all i have seen are mere propaganda as boko haram keeps killing innocent Nigerians on daily basis.

At least our soldiers had finally penetrated Sambisa, were they able to during the clueless one's regime? Don't worry dear, this country will be great again in its full glory and you and i and our generations to come will be grateful to PMB and God.
Say amen Chukwudi nwannem

chukwudi44:
Well lets hope Buhari does implement 50-50 formula rather than the 97-5 he said he would do.You do not expect people to remain quiet if 97% of their income are used to develop other regions while theirs are neglected!!! It is only natural for anyone to react in duch situations.

The President has already promised that when the appoints are completed, every section of the country will be duly represented.

You want Biafra, Develop it yourself

Let go there again and let see who will shout foul at the end of it all. Someone is eating their money and they are shouting they wanna go to war. Let them bring on the war and let see who will suffer it. GEJ was on the throne for six years, he left the region unattended to and is it time they just woke from their slumber.... If they want peace good if they want war let them bring it coming.

chukwudi44:


Bros remember we have gone this route before? I do not remember the JTF having the upperhand.For the sake of our country,i hope peace reigns because we dont have the economy and army to sustain two insurgencies in the country at the moment.