Gbaramatu Monarch Pleads With Avengers, Says Buhari Govt Is Putting Members Of PANDEF, Tompolo On Firing Line

Paramount ruler of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, His Royal Majesty, Oboro Gbaraun II, Aketekpe ( Agadagba), has pleaded with dreaded Niger Delta Avengers militants to abandon hostilities and give President Muhammadu Buhari another chance to address the vex issues in the Niger Delta region.

Gbaramatu is the hotbed of renewed militancy in the region.

The monarch who spoke through the Secretary of the Traditional Council, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, expressed concern that allowing the militants to resume pipeline attacks would only jeopardize the gains of the relative peace earlier secured from the group.

The monarch said that the APC-led federal government must not toy with the Avengers’ threat ostensibly because of how they devastated the nation s oil and gas industry in the past.

“Avengers are not internet-based fighters so their threat are frightening. And because Gbaramatu is worst hit in terms of military onslaught, we are always the first to call for dialogue and peace.

“Currently, we have a very serious trouble in our hand, because the group have said both PANDEF and Tompolo who has been pleading with them to suspend earlier hostility had failed to get the federal government to act.

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“What that portary is that one day they could come and hunt Tompolo and members of PANDEF, so the federal government only putting these on the firing line”, he said.

According to him, despite the fact that the Buhari-led administration had failed to fulfill its own part of the peace bargain, especially the 16-point agenda of Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), there was need to give government more chance, saying to jaw-jaw is better than war-war.

“We admonish the Avengers to sheathe their swords. Whatever is making them angry is justifiable. Oil is the blood of the nation. Destroying oil and gas facilities will do us no good”, Gbenekama said.

Chief Godspower Gbenekama

“It’s one year and two days when PANDEF tendered the 16-point agenda to the president, after pleading with the avengers. So why won’t they be angry? Perhaps the threats from the avengers will wake up the federal government”.

He however expressed dismay that the federal government was behaving abnormal about concerns of the region, saying, “it is abnormal situation for the Buhari administration to keep snubbing the Niger Delta people.

Gbenekama, wondered why a serious government that is seeking for peaceful environment for oil and gas business to thrive would turn around to deployed security personnel to scruttle PANDEF meeting which was tailored to help secure the peace deal.

He regreted that none of the promises made by the vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, particularly the N2billion take off grant to the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, the relocation of the headsqauaters of the IOCs, as well as the $16billion Export Processinh Zone project have been given considerable attension by the Buhari’s administration.

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“On the Maritime University, nothing seems to be happening. The N2b naira, which is even small, has not been released, he said.

He added: “All developments are directed to the North. Can you imagine the president telling the World Bank to focus development in the North. Over 80% employment is directed to the North. Does the federal government really have the intention to develop the Niger Delta? Now why there won’t grievances and threats to  burst pipeline.

He however berated the military for the continuous militarization of the Niger Delta coastal communities, saying that the  military.operations in region are targeted at defenseless.people of the region.