The Niger Delta Avengers, Saturday lauded the Niger Delta elders for the demands they presented on behalf of the region, asking government to begin immediate implementation of the demands for peace to reign in the region.
Then group, which stressed that the Federal Government needs the region for its survival, however, warned those working against the interest of the region to desist in their own interest.
According to the Avengers, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), led by Chief Edwin Clark deserves kudos by all well meaning Nigerians for presenting such minimal demands before the government of Nigeria, to pacify the people of the region “that has been continuously raped and dehumanized since 1914, because the ‘Golden Egg’ she lays is the commonwealth of the nation.”
Meanwhile, another militant group, the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) has alleged that the leaders were humiliated during the meeting with President Buhari.
According to the spokesman of the NDGJM, Gen. Aldo Agbalaja “The humiliation meted out to PANDEF by the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, did not come to the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate as a surprise, we expected it because we know, even the government knows the character and intent of the man and most of those he led to the meeting.
“We warned and the government/the world gave heed. The only painful part is the fact that the humiliation is stamped on the collective image of our people.”
The NDGJM dared President Buhari and his administration to attempt or fully carry out his military action against their people and see the response that will follow.
The Avengers, in a statement by their spokesman, Brig. Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, said the demands would lead to the roadmap to bring about the desired peaceful atmosphere that the nation needed, if there is sincerity.
The Avengers warned that “the days of buying peace through unpatriotic Niger Deltans, to extract our resources are gone for good”.
Agbinibo stated: “Since the day crude oil and gas resources was discovered for the past 60 years, we are only asking for portable water, electricity, affordable healthcare, quality education etc; until 1994, when our people were visited by state sponsored military terror by the regime of General Sani Abacha, a regime President Muhammadu Buhari served as one of his henchmen and chaired the Petroleum Trust Fund.
“This is the 21st century Niger Delta; we gave the Nigerian State and her International Oil Corporations freedom, peaceful atmosphere over time, but was betrayed. We are not deterred by President Muhammadu Buhari mulling over continuous military operation.”
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