Emma Amaize
3 January 2009
MOVEMENT for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) has written off the new Ministry of Niger-Delta, saying it has no faith in the ministry.
The militants also warned the two Ministers, Chief Ufot Ekaette (Minister of Niger-Delta) and Elder Godsday Orubebe (Minister of State for Niger-Delta) not to allow themselves to be used as spies and traitors.
In a sharp reaction, however, the Minister of State for Niger-Delta, Elder Orubebe told Saturday Vanguard that he and Chief Ekaette have equal stake in the Niger-Delta like and any other Delta and would not betray the youths and people of the Niger-Delta.
Responding to the warning by MEND that he should be cautious about his visits to militant camps because Henry Okah is still in captivity, Orubebe said he would visit anywhere in the region to discuss directly with the communities, youths and militants, adding that the issue of Okah has been taken up appropriately and was being discussed at the highest level of government in the land, and government should not be expected to come out openly to announce its deliberations on Okah.
He also denied that he was carrying bags of money to militants to buy peace, saying it was no more business as usual and President Umaru Yar'Adua has no such plans. His words, "Well, I believe that every youth in the Niger-Delta would know from our antecedent that we are a committed group of people, we are concerned about the Niger-Delta in terms of peace and development and we will not disappoint them."
MEND's spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, in an online interview with Saturday Vanguard stated only the release of Henry Okah and the return to true federalism would bring the much expected peace to the region.
It said a free Henry Okah is in the best position to discuss with the Federal Government on how an enduring peace would return to the region and anything short of that on the part of the government is rigmarole.
He, however, assured that the Ministry of Niger-Delta would come out with a package for the region in 2009, which he believes would be acceptable to everybody.
According to him, "Well, I believe that every youth in the Niger-Delta would know from our antecedent that we are a committed group of people, we are concerned about the Niger-Delta in terms of peace and development and we will not disappoint them. Chief Ufot Ekaette is an experienced man and is an asset to the people of the Niger-Delta. His long-standing civil service experience and his being a one-time Secretary to the Government of the Federation for eight years show that he has a lot of wisdom and experience and is an asset the region.
"His type is not many in the Niger-Delta and there is nobody who has any stake higher than Ufot Ekaette in the Niger-Delta. He is from the Niger-Delta. He is committed, he is experience, he has the capacity and of course, we are working together. I am a grassroots politician. We have vision, we have discussed and we know that two of us are totally committed to providing the needed peace and development in the Niger-Delta.
"All we need from them is that they should know that will not betray them, we will ensure that there is peace, there is employment for our youths, there is development in the area, there is economic empowerment in place and the job cannot be done by one person, all of us collectively will do it. The youths and the people will have their own part to play and then, government will have its own part to play.
By the time we corroborate the two aspects, we will get to where we are going; there is hope for the Niger-Delta", he said.
Despite its war mood, MEND said, "The atmosphere will change the day the President throws open the prison gates for all freedom fighters in its captivity to go home and partake in building the region."
It also prayed that a miracle would happen to avert the impending catastrophe hanging over the nation in 2009.
On its part, the Ijaw Youth Leadership Forum (IYLF), an umbrella organization of Ijaw youth leaders, headed by Comrade T.K. Ogoriba at a meeting on 26 December at Oporoza in Delta State attended by the Secretary of the Presidential Committee on Conflict Resolution on the Niger-Delta , Hon. Kingsley Kuku, former Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) president, Comrade Emmanuel Oyinfie Jonjon and chief host, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, insisted on an unconditional release of Henry Okah among other things for peace to reign in the region in 2009.
Minister of State for Niger-Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe who was at the meeting seized the opportunity to brief the youth leaders on the Federal Government's plan for the region. Issues that were extensively discussed at the meeting included amnesty for freedom fighters, the military Joint Task Force (JTF) on the NIgerr-Delta and its activities, Niger- Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Niger Delta Ministry 2009 budget allocation; and the alleged Arogbo militant camp.
The Forum resolved as follows: That unrestricted amnesty through a Presidential address be granted to all Niger Delta freedom fighters including Henry Okah, stressing, "that it is the only thing that will guaranty peace in the region";
That the JTF be banned in the Niger Delta immediately because it has caused a serious hardship to the people of the region through its illegal activities such as extortion and intimidation of oil company executives for employment of relations and contract award;
That the NDDC and the Ministry of Niger Delta budget for 2009 be reviewed upwardly by the National Assembly for holistic implementation of projects in the region; and That Arogbo community in Ondo State is not a militant camp.It is a respected ancient Ijaw community.
The youth leaders also expressed worry "over the way and manner President Yar Adua is handling the Niger Delta case".
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
