SAN FRANCISCO, July 30, (THEWILL) – Prominent leaders of the Ijaw ethnic stock have alleged of perceived plans by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to alienate Ijaw people from the scheme of things in the country.
They took this position at a meeting convened in the instance of former federal information commissioner, Chief Edwin Clark, which was attended by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Delta State deputy governor, Mr Kingsley Otuaro and traditional rulers of Ijaw Nation.
The closed-door meeting which was over the renewed militancy in the region, took place on Saturday in Warri, Delta State. The communiqué signed by Chief Clark, and read by Pastor Power Ziakede Aginighan, said it was only dialogue that can resolve the present crisis in the region.
The Ijaw leaders maintained that in the interest of peace, the federal government should immediately withdraw military personnel from Gbaramatu Kingdom while the proposed discussion by government takes off.
The meeting also called on Ijaw militant groups to immediately cease plans to declare Niger Delta Republic by Monday, noting that Ijaw Nation believed that through restructuring, the various crisis bedeviling the country could be resolved, including the Niger Delta problem.
The communique read, “The Elders and Leaders of thoughts of the Ijaw nation call for the immediate restructuring of the Nigerian nation along the lines of peaceful federalism, and noticed that this is the panacea for the sustainable development of Nigeria.
“As a demonstration of sincerity of commitment to dialogue, FG should immediately withdraw the military from all occupied Ijaw communities, particularly Gbaramatu kingdom. The meeting also calls on the FG to immediately release the 10 innocent students of Gbaramatu kingdom.
“The meeting passed a vote of confidence on the Chief Boma Obuoforibo led leadership of the Ijaw National Congress. We condemn the move to scrap the Nigerian Maritime University approved by the preceding FG with temporary site at Kurutie and call for the immediate takeoff of the university.”
According to the Ijaw elders, “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 mainstream of national development and call on Mr. President to redress this ugly state of affairs.”
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