A pan-Nigerian group, Niger Delta People’s Congress (NDPC), has called on northerners and Yorubas living in the Niger Delta region to disregard the October 1 quit notice given by a Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators.
Chief Mike Loyibo, convener of the NDPC, said in an interview that the statement allegedly made by the militants’ group was not a true representation of the position of elders, leaders and people of the region.
He said the Niger Delta leaders believed in one Nigeria where every citizen is free to live, visit, and go about businesses in any part of the country.
Loyibo, however, called on the National Assembly to revisit the issue of devolution of power to states.
He condemned the alleged action of the federal lawmakers voting against power devolution which had heated up the polity, insisting that right steps should be taken to restore confidence and trust among Nigerians.
Loyibo stated: ‘’The good people of Niger Delta region have always been peace-loving and accommodating. We see strengths and opportunities in diversity rather than divisions.
‘’The statement allegedly made by a Niger Delta militants’ group is not a true representation of our position. We believe in one Nigeria where every citizen is free to live, visit or do business in any part of the country. Hate speeches will never take us anywhere.
‘’Despite years of oppression, our region has remained resolute and committed to one Nigeria where justice, equity and peace reign.
‘’The statement should be disregarded and all Nigerians should feel free in the Niger Delta region.’’
He also expressed disagreement with the issuance of quit notice by the northern youths on the Igbo people.
Loyibo added, ‘’We of the Niger Delta are peace-loving people irrespective of the trauma we have gone through over the decades. We still believe that peace is the only way forward. This type of peace can only be achieved through reasonable dialogue by engaging acceptable and strategic stakeholders from the affected communities.
‘’Note that when the youth make statements, they are speaking for the silent elders. I am appealing to all concerned that we need peace. Else, the oil companies we expect to develop our areas would not come, while existing ones would relocate operations elsewhere.”
Loyibo, however, urged all regions to show respect and stop treating other zones as a second citizen, even as he admonished youths to tread with caution and support the current Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari to bring development to the region and address all issues raised.’
Meanwhile, a former State House Chaplain, Professor Yusuf Obaje, has cautioned those calling for division of Nigeria and all centrifugal forces, saying the country will come out of this “troubled” time more prosperous and united.
He urged the youth to imbibe the spirit of patriotism and fear of God in all their activities.
Obaje, spoke on Tuesday at the launch of TAP-The August Project, organised by Read & Earn Federation in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the United Nations International World Youth Day, held at National Library of Nigeria headquarters, Abuja.
He said those calling for the division of Nigeria would be disappointed after October, that the country would remain indivisible entity in spite of the current challenges of insurgency and recession.
He, however, called on the Federal Government to ensure that right education is given to the Nigerian youth at all levels in order to contribute their quota to the development of the country, adding that every Nigerian has a role to make the country great.
The Liberian and Chief Executive Officer of National Library of Nigeria, Professor Lenrie Aina, who was represented by Aminu Ogaji, said the future of Nigeria was in the hands of the youth, and called on governments at all levels to pay particular attention to youth development.
President-General of Read & Earn Federation (REF), a UNESCO network, Mr Abdulsalami Ladigbolu, disclosed that the foundation had provided capacity building for 37 young Nigerians selected from various states of the federation under the TAP-The August Project.
He added that the organisation was targeting training about 1,200,000 in the next few years.
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