Itsekiri group warns against talks with NDA as they are a front for old and new governors

ITSEKIRI pan-cultural organisation the Warri Study Group (WSG) has accused some serving and former governors in the Niger Delta of fraternizing with militants to wreak havoc in the region as a means of gaining influence.

 

Over recent weeks, there has been a return of armed militancy to Nigeria's oil-producing region with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) blowing up oil pipelines and installations. Having realised the futility of trying to suppress the militancy with force, the government has agreed to enter into dialogue with the NDA and other groups.

 

However, WSG chairman Edward Ekpoko, said that many former and serving governors were behind the latest militancy, only to openly and secretly call on the federal government to dialogue and drop pending criminal charges against them. He then urged the federal government not to dialogue with NDA or any other militant group operating in the Niger Delta.

 

Mr Ekpoko said: “Politicians, including an ex-governor of Delta State and militants have continued to use this neglect to blackmail the federal government as a reason for the renewed crisis. But who is to be held responsible?

 

“Politicians, especially some governors, both serving and former and their cronies from the Niger Delta are hands in glove with the militants and are openly and secretly advocating dialogue with them so as to have criminal charges against them dropped. To dialogue with them is tantamount to open discussion with corrupt politicians from the region that have forced the pathetic conditions of life that now pervade the Niger Delta."

 

Earlier this week, south-south leaders met in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital and suggested that President Muhammadu Buhari should lead the federal government’s negotiating team in the proposed dialogue with Niger Delta agitators. However, Niger Delta activist Annkio Briggs and other Niger Delta groups, have insisted that nothing short of 100% resource control would be acceptable to the region in the dialogue.

 

Mr Ekpoko asked who the NDA are as Tompolo has denied them and Mend has denied them, pointing out that all they want is to bargain themselves from investigation and trial. He pointed out that the NDA and its affiliate the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Front have no clear agendas.