Niger Delta statesman, Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, has said militants carrying out attacks after a peace talk has been initiated are nothing but criminals. In a recent press briefing, Clark stressed that the youths who have been carrying out attacks and making boasts on social media are enemies of the Niger Delta people.
Speaking in his
capacity as the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF),
Clark appealed to the government to keep its part on request made as the
home front will be handled by the elders.
In
his words: “Our boys were still boasting in the social media that they
were going to attack; they will do this, do that. I was in my house when
they sent to me that FG has sent troops to the creeks in a houseboat
opposite Oporoza and that some boys were arrested. We intervened and
those boys were released. So the question is, what do we want, what are
they looking for? They are enemies of the people; they are criminals."Continuing, Clark said: “The
war you are fighting did not start today. You have not even waited for
the dialogue to take place, and then you have other ulterior motives.“So
we will soon have a meeting of PANDEF to discuss this thing and take a
position. Let me also warn that there are some politicians who are also
members of the Niger Delta, who are fighting themselves, and it is not
unlikely that some of these people are involved in these bombings to
discredit each other.“The
recent blowing up of Trans-Forcados Pipeline operated by Nigerian
Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) is no longer a matter arising from
grievances, but an act design to sabotage the present peace process.
“I
want to emphasise that no government sits by, and watch its national
assets being destroyed. It is the innocent members of the communities
who would bear the brunt of possible reprisal attacks by military.
“We
appeal to FG to go on acting on the requests we made to Mr. President
on November 1. We will deal with this situation. We won’t sit down at
home with arms folded and allow some few individuals to destroy our
destiny.
“A larger meeting will be called to review the situation and take a position,” he concluded.
ALSO READ: President to meet Niger Delta elders
President
Buhari held a high-level meeting with leaders and other stakeholders of
the Niger Delta region and received a 16-point request presented for
negotiation by the Niger Delta leaders.
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