BEVERLY HILLS, September 01, (THEWILL) – South-South leaders, under the aegis of the South-South Peoples Conference (SSOPEC) has urged the militant groups still bombing pipelines and other facilities/installations of oil companies to emulate the members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) on cessation of hostilities in the crude oil and gas-rich region.
This was declared in a press conference in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, by Prof. Sotonye Amakiri, Chairman of the group who praised the NDA for embracing the dialogue option with the Federal Government saying the move would bring peace and revive the economic activities in the region.
They reminded the aggrieved militants that while they were busy attacking oil and gas installations and causing panic, other parts of Nigeria would take advantage of the situation in the region to fast-track development of their areas.
“SSOPEC commends NDA for listening to the call of elders and leaders of the South-South geo-political zone, by its declaration of cessation of hostilities with the Federal Government,” the elders said.
“SSOPEC urges other armed and aggrieved groups in the South-South to follow the good example of NDA to cease fire and dialogue with the Federal Government for improved security and peace of the region.
“SSOPEC is also pleased with the Federal Government for its willingness to open dialogue with armed and aggrieved groups in the Niger Delta.
“We wish to advise that the anticipated dialogue must be comprehensive, sincere and all-embracing, to secure enduring security and peace in the South-South geopolitical zone and other parts of the Niger Delta.
“Violence is not an alternative to bring to government attention, the issues of under-development and environmental degradation confronting the Niger Delta region.
“President Muhammadu Buhari should consider the current calls for restructuring of Nigeria, which will reposition the country to achieve greatness.
“There is no doubt that majority of the people of the South-South geopolitical zone strongly believe in one united, indivisible and indissoluble Nigeria, where no section is oppressed.
“To achieve this, Nigeria by content and practice, must be changed, as pretence over the years has failed to help matters.”
Story by David Oputah
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