Why Buhari should consider the demands of the Niger Delta Avengers
As the wave of pipeline bombing and destruction of oil facilities by the Niger Delta Avengers goes unhindered, a federal public officer, Matthias Eto, has raised the alarm that should the avengers be left to continue in the spate of pipeline destructions, the economy of Nigeria would be grounded to a halt.
Arising from his fears, he has pleaded with the avengers to drop their swords and heed the voice of reason, if not for the federal government but for the Niger Delta States whose federal allocation has reduced as a result of the fall in oil production.
Matthias Eto, the federal commissioner in charge of the Public Complaints Commission in Delta State and a stalwart of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), told NAIJ.com: “the Niger Delta Avengers have demonstrated that they can cripple the country’s economy.
“It is high time they militants embraced the olive branch offered by the federal government as they cannot achieve their aim with the violent destruction of oil installations in the region.
“It is a very foolish thing to continue to do so. A look at the economic position of the country since their activities will show that they have achieved their goals. Times are becoming hard on the common man.
“And they are creating more unemployment as we are hearing of retrenchment of workers in many sectors and state governments’ in ability to pay workers’ salaries. They are creating problems for their own people.”
The Ombudsman boss, while harping on the importance of life over any interest whatsoever, said that one effect of the insurgency is environmental destruction that goes with the activities of the militants.
He admonished leaders to be mindful of their actions and statements as they leave lasting but negative impressions in the minds of hearers as such may have detrimental effect on the Nigerian populace.
The Niger Delta Avengers had since February 2016 destroyed various oil facilities in the region, vowing to ground the economy of the nation until President Muhammadu Buhari yields to the agitation of the Niger Delta people, especially those in the littoral communities of the region.
Although Buhari has called for dialogue, the militants have turned down Buhari’s request, maintaining that the only panacea to the ceasefire call was meeting their needs and not dialogue which may yield only immediate financial gratification to the militants.
Stakeholders in the region have also condemned the call for dialogue, insisting that dialogue might not yield any meaningful result but overall development of the region which the federal government is shying away from.
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