President Umar Yar�Adua will on Monday convene the first Niger Delta Summit which will consider all ideas and initiatives, including the Niger Delta Master Plan, with a view to finding an enduring solution to the crisis in the region.
This is coming just as a youth organisation, working for disarming youths in the region and enthronement of dialogue in pursuing the interests of the region, has commenced disarmament campaigns of militants in the Niger Delta as a gesture of overtures to Yar�Adua for the development of the region.
Yar’Adua had said during the campaigns and in his inauguration speech that the restoration of peace in the Niger-Delta would be one of the major national emergencies that his government would deal with within the first 100 days in office.
According to a statement signed yesterday by the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, Yar’Adua “had indictated in his inuagural address on Tuesday 29 May, 2007 that the crisis in the in the Niger Delta would command the urgent attention of his government.
Consequently, the President will, on Monday, 4th June, 2007, begin the dialogue and engagement process on the crisis with the peoples of the Niger Delta by hosting in Abuja his first Niger Delta Summit with all stakeholders.
“The Summit will consider alll ideas and existing initiatives, including the Niger Delta Master Plan, and come up with an Action Plan with a view ti accelerating an enduring solution to the Niger Delta crisis.
“President Yar’Adua expects that the Summit will chart a new course to end all conflict, bring security, stability, development and prosperity to this strategic region of Nigeria”.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had formally launched the Niger Delta Development Master Plan on March 27, 2007 as a blueprint for the sustainable development of the oil-rich region.
Meanwhile, members of the Niger Delta Peace Forum have therefore asked all groups to stop all attacks and any other action meant to draw attention and hit back at corporate organisations in the region and the government over neglects.
In a statement by the leader of the Forum, sent to THISDAY, Mr. Moses Siloko Siasia said the government of Yar�Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, which embodies transparency and accountability, should be given a chance to keep to their promises.
The youth leader said his group was particularly touched by consistent statements of Yar�Adua to the effect that returning peace to the Niger Delta was his priority and pledged cooperation of all youths.
�We acknowledge and respect the statement made by President Umaru Musa Yar�Adua that the Niger Delta problem is a Nigerian problem. Also in his inaugural address on 29th May, 2007, at the Eagle Square, Abuja, that the crisis in the Niger Delta commands urgent attention and it�s of strategic importance to the Nigerian State, that he will use all necessary resource available to him to address the lingering crisis in the Niger Delta.
�This statement of hope made by Mr. President has prompted us to use all machineries within our reach and to work constructively in making sure that our youths cease fire and further stop violent acts against oil companies such as kidnapping, wanton destruction of lives and properties. These we will pursue with all manner of seriousness to help the new government actualise the master plan for the Niger Delta people�, he pledged.
Siasia, however, regretted that politicians from the region with some other he said were benefiting from the crises in the Niger Delta region were in the habit of fanning the embers of discord and warned them to desist from sponsoring the breach of the peace in the region.
According to the statement, as they have been consulting with all stakeholders in the creeks, they will report the positions of the youths back to requisite authorities with a view to harnessing the abundant energy and human resources.
�Due consultations is ongoing in all the creeks on how we can harness the mass energy and idealism of our youths into productive ventures and also to conscientise and sensitise the youths on the need to build understanding with government and multi-national oil companies, create regular interaction with security agencies and government at all levels, find solutions to genuine agitations, and discuss on the ways to stop all criminally motivated agitations and activities, These we have also started�, he said.
The group asked all newly elected governors in the region to work in the general interest of the electorates instead of the past practices of self enrichment to the detriment of the masses.
They however made afresh, the request for the freedom of all their Ijaw leaders who are currently clamped in detention, mentioning particularly the cases of Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo and Timi Frank.
�We want to use this opportunity to advice all our brand new Governors in the Niger Delta States to be focused and remain committed to the collective interest and aspirations of our people, because this time it will not be business as usual. We are also calling for the release of all political prisoners, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, Timi Frank and the rest of them�, Siasia reiterated.
He commended the efforts of former Chief of Army Staff and current Chief of Defense Staff, Lieutenant General Owoye Azazi and some notable Ijaw leaders like Chief Edward Clark among others who he said has been working round the clock to achieve peace in the region.
Jun22007