IYC To FG: “We Have Had Enough”, What N’Delta Need Is Action, Not Rhetoric

Eric Omare

As the Federal Government through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs set to hold its 2nd Regular Meeting of the National Council on Niger Delta in Akure, Ondo State, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide says what is needed now in the region to sustain the existing peace is action towards implementation of the promises made to the region and not endless meetings and rhetoric.

The meeting which is slated for 7th to 14th of September, 2017, is expected to chant the way out for relative peace in the Niger Delta region.

IYC’s factional President, Eric Omare, a lawyer however said that the Federal Government has failed to implement the recommendations of the many meetings held with leaders of the region, stressing that the region have had enough of meetings.

According to him, any meeting or discussion on the Niger Delta that is not geared towards addressing the resource control and ownership question so as to have lasting peace in the Niger Delta region is mere rhetoric.

He recalled that at the height of the renewed militancy, the leaders and stakeholders of the region intervened and the militants declared ceasefire with promise on the part of the federal government to address some short term needs of the region.

One of the such needs, according to him was the immediate commencement of academic activities at the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State which the federal government has failed to implement since the truce was reached.

He said that the Federal Government also ought to commence actions towards addressing the problem of local refineries so as to economically engage the local people involve including building of modular refineries.

Besides, Omare averred that the Federal Government by now was expected to have commence the immediate relocation of the corporate headquarters of oil companies to the Niger Delta, among other promises made by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on behalf of the federal government, lamenting, however, “it is sad to note that no action has been taken in any of these promises”.

According to him, whereas academic activities are supposed to commence at the maritime university in the September 2017 academic session, nothing concrete has been done towards commencement of academic activities.

“The federal government has failed to release fund for the purpose of recruitment of academic and non-academic staff, admission of students and other steps towards commencement of academic activities”.

“In the same vein, there is no step towards the relocation of the corporate headquarters of multinationals to the Niger Delta region, establishment of modular refineries and economic empowerment of local people involved in local refinery in the Niger Delta region”.

He emphasized that even the most important federal road in the Niger Delta region, the East West Road is now impassable.

The IYC boss therefore warned that “the people of the Niger Delta are running out of patience with the endless meetings and rhetoric without result.

“What we need in the Niger Delta now is action and result rather than meetings”, he insisted.

Outlining, what could bring about peace in the region, Omare said the federal government should release funds for the maritime university to commence academic activities.

“Multinationals should commence the process of relocation of their headquarters to the Niger Delta region, Ogoni clean-up should be funded and handled with the seriousness it deserves.

Moreso, he said “local refiners should be empowered with the enabling technology and resources, the East West Road should be completed and above all, any meeting or discussion on the Niger Delta should be geared towards addressing the resource control and ownership question so as to have lasting peace in the Niger Delta region”.

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