A prominent female activist from the Niger Delta,
Ankio Briggs, on Sunday condemned the Niger
Delta Avengers for attacking oil and gas pipelines
and installations in the region, the News Agency
of Nigeria reports.
Ms. Briggs, a close ally of ex-President Goodluck
Jonathan, said the avengers were from Somalia
and not Nigeria.
The avengers have claimed responsibility for
recent attacks on oil and power installations in
the Niger Delta. The attacks have reduced almost
by half Nigeria’s oil production and caused
darkness across the country by destroying
pipelines that supply gas to power stations.
Ms. Briggs spoke in Enugu at the 17th Annual
Convention of the Igbo Youth Movement, IYM,
with the theme `Nigeria, still in pursuit of true
fiscal federalism’.
She also condemned the recent murder by an
irate mob of a woman, Bridget Agbamihe, in Kano
for blasphemy as well as herdsmen attacks in
Nimbo, Enugu State and other parts of the
country.
Also speaking at the event, Alex Ekwueme,
Second Republic Vice-President, and a former
Minister of Information, Jerry Gana called for true
federalism and devolution of powers to the states.
They said that restructuring and resource control
by regions was a panacea to end acts of uprising
across the country.
The former vice-president, who chaired the event,
said that the British colonialists had earlier divided
the country to enable each region control and
manage its resources without interference.
“The British colonial masters divided the country
in such a way that every region will operate
within its constitution,” he said.
The guest speaker and former Information
Minister, Jerry Gana, said that the key solution to
Nigeria’s problem was through true federalism
and devolution of powers to states.
“True fiscal federalism is the only form of
association that will allow peace and stability in
the country and each region should be allowed to
manage its resources the way they want it,” Mr.
Gana said.
He noted that the formula for allocating revenue
made the Federal Government to get richer while
the states operated like beggars.
“States should be allowed to manage its
resources to enable them govern their people the
way they want and allocate some percentage to
the Federal Government.
“Government should not be far from the people
and the federating unit should be made strong to
meet the needs of the people,” he said.
Mr. Gana recommended continuous dialogue and
the implementation of the resolutions of national
confab by the government as the only means the
recent agitation and other national demand could
be handled.
A Yoruba leader, Ayo Adebanjo, said that the
various acts of political instability in the country
were because the constitution under which the
country was governed was not good for
heterogeneous country like Nigeria.
“To put a stop at the various uprising in the
country such as Niger Delta Avengers, MASSOB,
IPOB etc, our constitution needs to be changed to
allow for restructuring of the country under true
federalism.
Earlier, the founder of IYM, Elliot Uko, said that
the event was to honour prominent Nigerians who
had contributed to the growth and development
of the country.
He said Igbo youth were committed to building a
stronger Nigeria and to reduce the tension in the
region, adding that true federalism would help
the country to grow and prosper.
The highlight of the event was presentation of
awards to Messrs. Gana, Adebayo, detained Biafra
secessionist leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and Ms. Briggs.
The event was also attended by former governors
of Anambra, Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Peter Obi,
and students from tertiary institutions in the
South-East.
(NAN)

Agimor:
This is the right way to go the people of the region must stand up and condemn this evil act been perpetrated by these militants and not like the ineffectual buffoon who is quick to condemn the killing far away in Florida night club all in a bid to justify why he couldn't tame Boko haram during his reign.

DonMaxxy:
If Boko boys are from Sudan....

And Fulani herdsmen are from Libya...

Therefore Niger Delta Avengers are from Somalia...Q.E.D

overall90:


you don't seem to understand what is happening here.

PentiumPro:
E be like say there are no Nigerians again, we are all either from Libya, Somali or some far distance place.

Agimor:
This is the right way to go the people of the region must stand up and condemn this evil act been perpetrated by these militants and not like the ineffectual buffoon who is quick to condemn the killing far away in Florida night club all in a bid to justify why he couldn't tame Boko haram during his reign.

Ikwokrikwo:
The woman is simply mocking Buhari and northerners fake condemnation of Fulani herdsmen

BlackSEER:



There is nothing like Nigerians. what we have is igbos, yorubas, ijaws, etc. Nigeria is a misnomer and fake contraption of different entities and tribes.

PentiumPro:
E be like say there are no Nigerians again, we are all either from Libya, Somali or some far distance place.

tafabaloo:
Lolzzz.......na soo!
Can't laff abeg.




By the time the yorubas start their own madness.....we go dey hear say dem be from Togo Republic.


Either you accept it or not, Nigeria is already manifesting symptoms of a failed state.