Leadership (Abuja)
Catherine Agbo
19 November 2008
Abuja — A group the Niger Delta Non-Violent Movement, has called on the federal government not to allow the current political arrangements of ministerial zoning to influence the nomination of ministers to the recently created Niger Delta Ministry, as the agitating groups in the region would only respect and honour a known Ijaw activist.
The president of the group, Mr. Onengiya Erekosima, said the case is a special one and should be treated as such in order to maximise the effectiveness and efficency of the ministry.
He said there was need to depart from the current approach to a new workable one that will translate into progress. He added that the current situation in the Niger Delta required a paradigm shift from the norm to a more realistic approach and that, anything short of that will further plunge their generation into hunger, disease and poverty.
Mr. Erekosima, on behalf of the movement, commended the president for retaining the three Ijaw ministers in his cabinet, but stated that any attempt to redeploy any of the substantive minnisters to the junior ministerial portfolio of the new Niger Delta ministry will be seen as a disservice to the people and would not be welcomed.
He maintained that the minister and minister of state must come from the region and must be Ijaw by tribe, from either Akwa Ibom, Edo or Ondo states, since the Niger Delta agitation is predominatly led by Ijaws and the youth in particular, which is why the minister of state should come from the Ijaw youth leadership service, with experience to relate wtih all divides in the struggle to achieve peace.
The group advised that the minister and minister of state's appointments should not be poilticised like other ministerial appointments, if it is to achieve it's desired objective.
They further said the minister must be a techniocat with proven track record, and unblemished service to the people of the region, and must be development-driven.
The group disclosed that after consultation with various youth leaders in the region, they have collectively endorsed Kingsley Kuku, the special adviser to the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), on conflict management forthe position of junior minister in the Niger Delta Ministry.
They further said the leaders and youths in the region believe and trust in this advocacy for a positive change and peace in the region, if made minister.
Mr. Kuku, an Ijaw from Ondo State, is one of the signatories to the famous Kaiama Declaration, one of the seven-man pioneer leaders of the Ijaw Youth Council and former national spokesman of Ijaw youths.
He was also a represenative of the Ijaw, in the Ondo State House of Assembly and the secretary to the presidential committee in the Niger Delta.
The statement added: "What else do we need if the government is sincere and genuine about bringing peace and positive change in the Niger Delta".
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