Ex-militants from the South-South geo-political zone, under the aegis
of National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, have commended
President Muhammadu Buhari for sacking service chiefs and their
subsequent replacement, describing it as long over due.
A statement in Abuja on Tuesday by the President of NCNDE, ‘General’
Israel Akpodoro, described the choice of the new service chiefs as
square pegs in square holes.
He said, “The latest appointments by the president go to show that he
remains a pan-Nigeria nationalist with the accurate sense of judgement.
President Muhammadu Buhari should keep up the job by appointing
credible Nigerians into positions of service, especially appointment of
Special Assistant to the President and chairman of Amnesty Programme. We
have resolved to support the President in his service to the country.”
Akpodoro had recently called on Buhari to ignore the threats by the
leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari,
to return to the creeks following the failure of former President
Goodluck Jonathan to be re-elected.
While apologising on behalf of the people for the insults Buhari
received from the Niger Delta during the campaigns, he urged the
government to “go for him” if Dokubo-Asari insists on his threat to
return to the creeks.
The ex-militants also called on the President to review the amnesty
programme of the Federal Government and contract for the protection of
oil pipelines.
He had said the Jonathan’s administration was a great disservice to the people of the Niger Delta.
The ex-warlords added, “Nigerians should be patient with Buhari and
give peace a chance. Buhari wants to work. Jonathan lost election
because there was a free and fair election in Nigeria. Jonathan failed
us because we thought that by now, all the whole roads in the Niger
Delta would have been tarred.
“We are not returning to the creeks, Dokubo-Asari is on his own.
Nobody should listen to him and if he makes noise, Buhari should go for
him. We are appealing to this government of Buhari to do well for us.
The amnesty programme should not be stopped. Boko Haram should lay down
their arms and bring their agitation to government and if the amnesty is
what they need, Buhari should do that for them.
“The NigerDelta people are disappointed in Jonathan. When
ex-President Umaru Yar ‘Adua brought amnesty, there was an agreement
that the Niger Delta should be developed. But Jonathan disappointed us;
out of the 30,000 ex-agitators, about 75 per cent did not benefit from
the amnesty programme under Jonathan. We fared better under Yar’Adua.”
(Punch)
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