The Delta State Forum of Ijaw Elders under the auspices of Izon Okosu-Oku (Izon Council of Elders), on Tuesday rejected the choice of a former Information Minister, Chief Edwin Clark, to lead the Niger Delta Peace Negotiation team with the Federal Government on behalf of the Niger Delta militants.

It also slammed Clark for his silent posture during the administration of the former President Goodluck Jonathan towards the development of the region, saying that the Ijaw leader ‘’cannot’’ be trusted.

A statement issued by the Chairman, Izon Okosu-Oku (Izon Council of Elders), Chief Bare Etolor, on behalf of Ijaw elders, said those fronting as the current peace ambassadors failed to understand that the development of the region was a continuous one.



The group said it was against Clark’s choice because he could not be trusted.

It maintained that military approach would not resolve the renewed hostilities in the region. It therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately withdraw his troops, as they would rather escalate the crisis.

The statement urged President Buhari to see himself as the President of all Nigerians and appealed to him to avoid actions that would further heat up the polity, especially now that the militants had agreed to a ceasefire.

It said, “The militants should have known that the inclusion of the ex-Minister of Information in the matter may stop, delay or bring negative results to the Niger Delta region.

“President Buhari’s strong principles, integrity and courage cannot allow him to meet with any group led by Chief Clark, who claims to be the father of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Those elders in the region who are struggling to represent the militants for negotiation with the Federal Government are laughable. Sadly, they did not remember that the Niger Delta development is a continuous task that must be done by every government, including former President Jonathan’s tenure.”

It urged the militant groups to nominate new leaders with no political inclination as well as foreigners and human rights groups to negotiate on their behalf.

The Ijaw elders further alleged that Clark was silent on the development of the region throughout the six years of former President Jonathan.

 “He cannot suddenly wake up less than 18 months into the new regime to convince President Buhari to start immediate development of the region,” they added.

http://punchng.com/dialogue-ijaw-elders-reject-clarks-team/

They are yet to constitute their team, but are quick to call the Govt to come forward with a team. Very obvious, put your house in order. This confusion is just the begin. For sitting back and allowed some criminal element to destabilize the country peace, just because someone and PDP lost an election, this confusion will continue.

Over $9billion sunk in ND and they have nothing to show for, except Avengers. God who have started planting confusion in mist of Boko haram, should extend that same or even bigger confusion in camp of Avengers and their supports.

aiit

To Clark everything is politics


BTW: why is it easy for this groups in niger delta to ask the president to withdraw the military but find it difficult to condemn d work of militants nor tell them to stop their activities??

Afterall the militants activities brought d military, so the best way to send d military packing is stop the bombing and approach dialogue then military have no other option than to go

Ijaw pple dont know what they want,at all

Let them to continue to meander in their own folly,the worl is watching,with 3D
but they should knw that their destiny is in their hands,not in the govt

Ijaw leaders and Indecision

What ever, the voice of the people must be heard. Niger Delta and its resources don't belong to Fulani Herdsmen.

All this groups fighting upandan to represent NDA,to what purpose.(he government knows they can't reach a workable dialogue with the avengers,guess why they are throwing up all this men..
Who are they? Where ve the been when avengers were bombing?
Government have thrown in some big money,everyone dey form elder.
Abi na dem wan force avengers to dialogue on their behalf..they made their choice and no going back on it..we know our people and not some wannabes..with due respect

I never liked that Man Clark... Izon means Truth and Clark is far from being a truthful man, full of hypocrisy.

amaechi1:
They are yet to constitute their team, but are quick to call the Govt to come forward with a team. Very obvious, put your house in order. This confusion is just the begin. For sitting back and allowed some criminal element to destabilize the country peace, just because someone and PDP lost an election, this confusion will continue.

Over $9billion sunk in ND and they have nothing to show for, except Avengers. God who have started planting confusion in mist of Boko haram, should extend that same or even bigger confusion in camp of Avengers and their supports.

if over $9billion has sunk in ND as u said, pls how much $$$$trillions has sunk in Lagos, Abuja and in Northern states and pls state their monthly revenue to the federal government and compare it with that of ND.

leave the 5%ters alone, let them drink dia oil if they so wish and you can eat your own cows.

i know d money gotten from a day oil drilling will be enough to buy the cows, yams and everything the north will produce in the next 5 years.

Will dialogue bring back Calaber and port harcout Seaports?

Peace is what matter!

Buhari is the cause of this!

Part 1. .Action

maka y..

Gud becuz de man has literally become a snitch

Just don't want to hear stories about how Buhari is trying to wipe them off the face of the earth, negotiating they refused

Stop blowing up pipes they refused


Buhari is not a joker

Anywhere you see Pa Edwin just know one thing...mon$y is involved

Emmaoga:


if over $9billion has sunk in ND as u said, pls how much $$$$trillions has sunk in Lagos, Abuja and in Northern states and pls state their monthly revenue to the federal government and compare it with that of ND.

leave the 5%ters alone, let them drink dia oil if they so wish and you can eat your own cows.

i know d money gotten from a day oil drilling will be enough to buy the cows, yams and everything the north will produce in the next 5 years.

At least lagos and abuja has something to show for money spent unlike niger delta

RottenTomato:
Buhari is the cause of this!

Your case is worse than the SCAVENGERS.....! I prefer them to you. You need mental surgery.

Edwin Clark rejected by his own people?

feldido:
I never liked that Man Clark... Izon means Truth and Clark is far from being a truthful man, full of hypocrisy.

But i where quick to speak against the OLU OF WARRI, when He said same.


Free yourself from hypocrisy.

Khd95:
Ijaw pple dont know what they want,at all


Let them to continue to meander in their own folly,the worl is watching,with 3D

but they should knw that their destiny is in their hands,not in the govt

They make it seem as if Niger Delta is all about Ijaw interest only. The Urhobos, Itsekiris, Aniomas,Ilajes, Ibibios etc who have been embracing peace are seen as fools.

yeye people...make una no dialogue o, Keep bombing Your land

Emmaoga:


if over $9billion has sunk in ND as u said, pls how much $$$$trillions has sunk in Lagos, Abuja and in Northern states and pls state their monthly revenue to the federal government and compare it with that of ND.

leave the 5%ters alone, let them drink dia oil if they so wish and you can eat your own cows.

i know d money gotten from a day oil drilling will be enough to buy the cows, yams and everything the north will produce in the next 5 years.

don't tell me you don't know that billions of naira has been embezzled in your region by your so called governors

let it be told that federal govt is not and will not be our problem. We had minister of petroleum from ND, minister of NDDC from ND and state owned/controlled ministry (eg DESOPADEC in delta). How much development did they attract. ND political class is corrupt to the neck. They are all thieves including EC. They are our problem and the brains behind the bombings. God is watching.