The peace initiative of the Federal Government in the Niger Delta appears to be heading for the rocks as the Ijaw youth leaders on Saturday withdrew from further talks with Abuja.
The youth leaders, under the aegis of Ijaw Youth Leadership Forum, took the decision at a meeting in Oporoza, Gbaramatu in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State on Saturday.
The leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujaheedeen Asari-Dokubo, the President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, his two predecessors – Dr. Felix Tuodolo and Mr. Oyinfie Jonjon – as well as an activist in Delta State, Chief Government Ekpomupolo, signed a seven-point statement announcing their withdrawal from the peace talks.
The youths also gave conditions for their participation in the planned Niger Delta Summit initiated by President Umaru Yar�Adua, to fashion out the way-forward for the Niger Delta.
Among the terms are � that the government to meet all previous agreements with their representatives, the release of over N300bn due to the Niger Delta Development Commission and the release of the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, Mr. Henry Okah.
The statement, which did not contain the previous agreements reads in part, �The Federal Government refused to meet any of the terms of agreement with us to date, nevertheless we continued with the dialogue because of our sincere desire for peace in the Niger Delta. On the contrary, the government is carrying out heinous activities detrimental to the peace in the region.�