Leadership (Abuja)
George Agba
5 January 2009
Abuja — Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Nigeria has condemned plans by the Niger Delta Militants to embark on a protest mission to Abuja against the appointment of Chief Uffot Ekaette as minister of Niger Delta, saying it is scandalous and vexatious.
It urged the militant to extend their energies and exuberance by harmonising and articulating thier ideas and send same to the ministry for implementation "instead of engaing in the "pull him down syndrome which will engender retrogression instead of progression, thereby negating the vision of the founding fathers who paid the supreme sacrifice for the Economic emancipation of the Niger Delta.
In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, the civil society groups commended President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua for being sensitive and responsive to the plight of the region through the choice of Ekaette's.
The statement signed by its co-ordinator, Barrister Leo Ekpenyong; Secretary, Bassy and its facilitation Malam Abdulfatai Ibrahim stated: "It is a clear case of Ossification on the part of the militants to imagine that Chief Ekaette is not fit for the job, when we all know that knowledge counts as well as experience.
"We, therefore, seize this opportunity to caution desperate political fortune seekers to desist from using the militants whose stock-in-trade is to destroy instead of proffering useful suggestions and solutions to the lingering Niger-Deltal crisis."
The group further said "Chief Ekaette will not lose sleep for any planned protest on January 2, 2009 or any other form of uncivilised, archaic mass actions as the law enforcement agents will be there to their job.
"We also enjoin Chief Ekaette to take consolation in the words of Syndney Brewer who posited that no tyranny of circumstances can permanently imprison a determined mind, because where there is a will, there must always be a way."
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