Otuaro Reacts To Avengers Threat, Says FG Still Committed To Dialogue

Acting Governor of Delta State, Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, has said that the Federal Government remains committed to dialogue tailored towards the development of the Niger Delta region.

Otuaro, who is also Chairman, Delta State Advocacy Committee Against Oil Facility Vandalism, stated this on Monday in Warri, while reacting to the Niger Delta Avengers’ recent threat to resume hostilities in the region over perceived federal government indifference to development of the region.

“PANDEF’s proposed meeting in Port-Harcourt allegedly disrupted by the FG and some delayed fulfillment of promises may not be evidence that the FG has abandoned its development agenda on the Niger Delta as suggested by the Avengers for planning resumption of hostilities against oil concerns”, Otuaro argued.

“Given the circumstances and the economy just improving for the FG, it makes more wisdom to wait and consummate the dialogue process which I assure has not collapsed. Sustaining the peace would enable the FG to capably meet the challenges of nation building including developing the Niger Delta”, Otuaro pleaded.

The Acting Governor in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Communication and Press, Mr. Bulou Kosin, said that the Avengers threat, if actualized, would be counterproductive in more ways than one including loss of lives of the unprotected people who could be the butt of military attacks and sued for more patience by the people of the Niger Delta.

“The Avengers’ offensive will erode gains already made by subsisting dialogue to which the FG remains committed and is designing a holistic approach to resolving the Niger Delta question”, Otuaro cautioned.

“NDA’s Operation Red Economy will halt whatever development projects ongoing in the region and possibly new ones conceived and expressed by the FG before the world which is watching. It would take the government of Nigeria, just exiting a recession, much revenue that is only now coming in to execute projects”.

He reminded: “The planned assault on oil installations will lead to massive environmental despoliation that will take several decades and funds to revamp and would in the period cause untold hardship for the people in the creeks. Several state governments across the country have found it difficult to pay, for several months, salaries largely derived from oil revenue leading to suffering”.