₦airaland Forum

•Demand restructuring •Clark says Ijaw not keen on secession
Ijaw leaders yesterday converged on Warri, Delta State, to review the state of the nation, and deplored the recent surge in sabotage of oil and gas installations by Niger Delta militants.
They said the activities of the militants have not in any way helped the people, and warned the brains behind the attacks to cease hostilities forthwith.
But they also asked the federal government to give serious attention to the various calls for the restructuring of the federation as it remains the only sustainable answer for all the crises facing the nation.
In a communiqué at the end of the meeting hosted by former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, the Ijaw leaders expressed concern over the negative effect the bombing of the oil/gas installations has had on the nation’s economy.
The meeting, which had in attendance Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, the Delta State deputy governor, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, and others from various parts of the region, also charged the federal government to show faith and disengage all ongoing military operations in Ijaw communities, especially Gbaramatu, forthwith.
They called for “the immediate restructuring of the Nigerian nation along the lines of peaceful federalism, noticed that thus is the panacea for the sustainable development of Nigeria.”
They said that the prevailing trend of executive/legislature faceoff in the country “is effecting negatively on governance” and advised both arms to work in harmony in the interest of the nation.
“The meeting also noted the non-inclusive policies of the present administration which has led to the alienation of some components of the federation particularly the Ijaw nation from the main stream of national development and call on Mr. President to redress this ugly state of affairs.
“The meeting also called on the federal government for the immediate release of the 10 innocent students of Gbaramatu kingdom.
“The meeting condemns the move to scrap the Nigerian Maritime University approved by the preceding federal government with temporary site at Kurutie and calls for the immediate takeoff of the university.
“The meeting passed a vote of confidence on the Chief Boma Oyofuri led leadership of the Ijaw National Congress.”
Declaring the meeting open earlier on, Chief Clark said that the generality of Ijaw people were more interested in a unified but restructured Nigeria than secession.
The meeting, according to him, was aimed at telling the world and the federal government that Ijaw leadership could not be sidetracked in the process of restoring peace and security in the Niger Delta.
He appealed to those threatening secession in the region tomorrow to rescind their threat.
On the reported peace talks between the federal government and some Niger Delta leaders, Clark said government had not consulted with Ijaw leaders on the matter, saying the success of any peace negotiation needed the input of Ijaw leaders.
Also speaking, Gov. Dickson commended Ijaw leaders for taking the initiative to find a solution to the escalating security situation in the Niger Delta region.
“I have said that there’s no need for more wars in the Niger Delta, certainly not in Ijaw land. The matter is not for war-war, it’s for jaw-jaw”, he said.
Also at the meeting were former Rivers State deputy governor, Sir Gabriel Toby; former Minister of Culture, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas ; former Minister of Police Affairs, Chief Broderick Bozimo; retired Justice Francis Tabai (JSC); Ijaw National Congress (INC) National President Chief Boma Obuoforibo; former chairman, Rivers State Civil Service Commission , Sir Ngo Martins Martyns-Yellowe, Pere Charles Ayimibotu, Pere of Seimbiri Kingdom; Mbene III, Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom; and former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Pastor Power Aginighan.

Can't remember them making this call when their son reigned for 6 years!

Everfrank:
Can't remember them making this call when their son reigned for 6 years!

Do you even have the right to question the right of another fellow, not to talk of attempting to impose your will on another's right?

Restructure Nigeria and see rapid development from each region
it's only the parasites that wants the present arrangement to be continued

SS/SE cannot continue baby seating Nigeria like it has been doing for many decades.

Achuwa1:
SS/SE cannot continue baby seating Nigeria like it has been doing for many decades.

SE always attaching by force....lol.
Ordinary Edo state beats the whole of SE in oil production.

....

The problem is not with the current governance......We have to ask our state leaders what happened to all the billions sent here all the years.......NOW TO CLARK AND OTHER LOOTERS? how did you become so so rich? and your people live in penury? The youth have to learn to manage resources first before more come in.......when u fight for more and they keep stealing...do you think you can grow? Ask for complete leadership change and we will know you are really freedom fighters

Everfrank:
Can't remember them making this call when their son reigned for 6 years!

They called for it during their son reign, hence the nation conference their conducted

bizz:
The problem is not with the current governance......We have to ask our state leaders what happened to all the billions sent here all the years.......NOW TO CLARK AND OTHER LOOTERS? how did you become so so rich? and your people live in penury? The youth have to learn to manage resources first before more come in.......when u fight for more and they keep stealing...do you think you can grow? Ask for complete leadership change and we will know you are really freedom fighters

oga abeg forget all these excuse. e no concern u wether my state governor chop all my allocation. Just federalize this contry let all the regions have a favourable competition. Ur excuse is like telling me that one of my brother a thief so because of that u will not give my family what belong to her

Why calling on fg abi na fg bomb the pipe

nabiz:
oga abeg forget all these excuse. e no concern u wether my state governor chop all my allocation. Just federalize this contry let all the regions have a favourable competition. Ur excuse is like telling me that one of my brother a thief so because of that u will not give my family what belong to her

I know and I understand/support the fight but I need them to also think of how the money will be shared when it comes.if these present the leaders are still there,why do you think there will be massive development? Let them ask for leadership change as they fight for true federalism