Festus Ahon
9 July 2009
Ughelli — SPECIAL Adviser to the Delta State governor (Special Duties) on Mass Mobilization, Mr. Solomon Edojah, has charged Niger Delta youths to change strategy in their agitation for the development of the region by embracing peace and accepting the amnesty offered by the Federal Government.
Edojah, who fielded questions from newsmen yesterday, decried that the struggle which was about the neglect of the oil rich region and spear headed by the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, was being infiltrated by some criminal elements.
According to him, those being referred to as militants are not militants but freedom fighters.
He, however, told the youths to accept the Federal Government amnesty and give the government sometime to come up with its development programme for the region.
Edojah urged the government to reinforce the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of Niger Delta to enable them carry out some developmental projects in the region.
According to him, what they need in the region is massive development and transformation of the area and its citizenry.
He urged the youths to shift the agitation to their political representatives, particularly their legislators in the National Assembly.
Edojah stressed the need for the legislators to take advantage of the proposed amendment of the 1999 constitution to influence the removal of all obnoxious laws in the constitution militating against the development of the region and told the youths to drop their arms.
Edojah called for true federalism and enjoined all National legislators from the region to be out spoken and rise up to the challenges of being a legislator.
He said it was the place of the legislators to put on the front burner issue of the underdevelopment of the area, despite its oil wealth.
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