The groups in separate statements in Warri, said the move does not enjoy the support of right- thinking indigenes of the region. FHRACC national president, Alaowei Cleric, asserted: “The growing threats by some militants groups , particularly the Adaka Boro Avengers to declare Niger Delta Republic on the August 1, 2016 does not conform with the tenets of the Niger Delta struggle.” ”
The foundation of the struggle is well captured in the various Declarations by the ethnic nationalities in the region such as the Kaiama Declaration, the Ogoni Bill of Rights etc. Although all the Declarations anchored their demands on self-determination within the Nigerian Federation, none of them proposed to declare Niger Delta as an independent state from Nigeria.
“Niger Deltans are requesting for economic and political autonomy within the Nigerian state. If the militants are fighting for the genuine cause of the region, then they should not make matters worst for the people,” the group said. It added:
“If an independent Niger Delta Republic should be an option, then they must use civilized means to pursue their agenda.” FHRACC noted: “Already, Maj. Jasper Adaka Boro of blessed memory had raised the bar for armed confrontation and for over the years, militants in the region have been engaging the Federal Government in armed conflicts.” ” There are times armed struggle is not lucrative to achieving one’s aim. The world has evolved from armed struggle into intellectual struggle. Let the militants use non-violent approach to pursue their aim. All the various ethnic nationalities in the country have lent their voices to the need for Nigerians to renegotiate our unity.
“Niger Delta militants should also toe the same line by joining other Nigerians to push for our twin demands of Sovereign National Conference and Referendum. In the world today, struggle for independence through referendum is the only acceptable platform.” ” The militants should take a cue from the recent world history,” it emphasized. The group, however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari “to commit genuine effort to addressing the impasse,” adding, ” Federal Government’s divide and rule tactics or better still lackadaisical attitude towards the region cannot resolve the crisis.” “The President’s body language has so far shown that he does not care about the plight of the people other than the oil in region. We fear that government is deliberately keeping silence to the bombings of oil facilities by the militants in order to justify military response,”it further stated. It said, “We sensed Mr President has given in to mischief makers who are averse to dialogue and have commended military approach.” “For the sake of peace and our corporate existence, ” the group appealed, “President Buhari should not shy away from dialoguing with the militants.
What is happening in the Niger Delta has further supported the need to renegotiate the Nigeria’s unity.” “Mr President, please save Nigeria from the imminent precipice by allowing Nigerians to decide their future existence through a referendum,” it added. Meanwhile, CEPEJ coordinator, Sheriff Mulade, has urged Adaka Boro Avengers to “give peace a chance and take advantage of the federal government dialogue because no meaningful development can take place in a rancorous environment.” Its words: “Adaka Boro Avengers should abort their alleged plan to declare Niger -Delta Republic on August 1 because Niger Deltans do not support it.”
“We know successive governments neglected, deprived and underdeveloped the region in spite of her huge contributions to the national economy. “But what we needed now is constructive engagement with the federal government since President Buhari has considered dialogue as the best option to engage the stakeholders and find a lasting solution to the lingering quest for development towards ending militancy,” CEPEJ asserted. The group also implored government to shown sincerity of purpose for people “to have confidence in what he is doing, while Mr President should personally lead the dialogue process to achieve the desired result.”
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