THE Ijaw People Development Initiative, IPDI, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to deceive the people of Niger Delta with his new directive that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo should lead the Federal Government delegation on Niger Delta dialogue.

The rights group, in a statement by its national president, Mr. Austin Ozobo, yesterday, said: “It is obvious that President Buhari wants to delay implementation of policies pertaining to Niger Delta with his new stance.

“Clearly, Buhari is playing politics with his directive that his deputy should lead the Federal Government delegation on Niger Delta dialogue and our position is that he should not use Osinbajo to fool the region, such will be counterproductive. “Being the vice president, he may not have the power to carry out or implement decisions that may be taken at such forum. The vice president leading the delegation will end up in fiasco as the president is still playing politics with Niger Delta dialogue. “If care is not taken, the peace pact between the Niger Delta Avengers, other militant groups and the Federal Government may collapse with the resumption of office by President Buhari and delay in implementing earlier agreements, defeating the efforts of the vice president.

As acting President, we were okay with what Prof Osinbajo was doing. He was working hard to return peace to the Niger Delta region, but as Buhari has taken away the power, Osinbajo may not have the power to implement such decisions or terms to restore peace in the region.” “Our fear is that things may get worse with the return of President Buhari, certain steps or modalities taken by the acting President to restore peace in the region may be abandoned.”

SOURCE: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/03/new-order-osinbajoll-delay-policy-implementation-n-delta-ipdi/