The immediate past governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan has called on the Federal Government to involve governors from the Niger Delta in the efforts to resolve the crisis the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, has caused the region and the nation’s economy.
Stressing that the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, for Niger Delta militants failed to yield results because governors from the region were not involved, he stated that the governors should participate in the resolution of militancy and other challenges causing underdevelopment in the region.
Uduaghan spoke at the weekend in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, at the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE conference, where he noted that involving the region’s governors would maximise the Federal Government’s effort to solve challenges posed by the militants.
He, however, urged the agitating youth to embrace dialogue with the government to resolve the region’s crisis.
According to him, “The Amnesty did not achieve what it was to achieve because the governors were not involved. The states should be involved. The biggest threat in Niger Delta is that our land is seriously polluted, especially the water. In those days, you could see the sand under the water. We used it to wash our teeth. But it is not so anymore.
“Niger Delta Avengers are busting our pipelines for whatever reasons; anger. Nigerians are looking at it as something just affecting only the economy; it goes beyond that. Our environment is being ruined.
“Dealing with the Niger Delta challenge should be a carrot-and-stick approach: engagement first and force, where necessary. Engagements should be deepened. The governors should be part of it.
“I want to appeal to our brothers in Niger Delta Avengers that what they are doing is not just damaging the economy but the waters. I appeal to them to stop. The media should also help to appeal to them to stop it,” the ex-Delta governor said.
