The group, which paraded many PANDEF members as its members, among other demands, called for the creation of 6,000 jobs from the major oil companies in the zone and full demilitarization of Niger Delta villages among other demands.
Numbering about 38 persons led by King Afred Diete Spiff, the Amanayabo of Twon Brass, Bayelsa State, NDPC met behind closed doors with Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where they submitted the demands as conditions for lasting peace in the region.
A copy of the presentation at the meeting, signed by NDPC Secretary, Professor Benjamin Okaba, reads: “This delegation is not only to re-affirm the plausible submissions made earlier but to also prioritize these concerns and place them in clearer perspectives.
“This is premised on our objective assessment of the anxieties, sentiments and myriads of reactions from the key drivers and players in the crises across and outside the region that immediately trailed the meetings.
“We are very confident that our modest contributions as articulated below would constitute the panacea to the age long crises in the Niger Delta Region.
“The fundamental concern is political reconstruction and fiscal federalism. We are persuaded to uphold that the nation practices true federalism with legitimate and acceptable division of power among the constituents (the centre and regions) and the principle and practice of ownership and management of resources by the constituents.
“The derivation principal should allow the different units annex and control their resources and pay appropriate and agreed tax to the centre.
“Demilitarization and peace/confidence building: we are persuaded to request the Federal Government to stop further invasion of the region under any guise; release unconditionally all freedom fighters from detention and deploy political solution to the issues surrounding the leadership of the agitators/freedom fighters and cause multinational co-operations not only to relocate their operational bases to the region but more significantly create a minimum of 6,000 jobs for the teeming population of unemployed and restive youths of the region.”
About the Author
