FG told to address PANDEF 16 point Agenda for Peace to reign

THE President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) World-wide, Barr Oweilaemi Peretubo has called on the federal government to show commitment to the Niger Delta by implementing the 16 point agenda of PANDEF, as panacea for sustained peace in the region.

Peretubo said this while speaking with journalist in Yenagoa. He posited that the peace required in the Niger Delta is anchored on the development of the region.

Peretubo, urged the federal government to be true to its promises, by ensuring that teething issues of resource control, true federalism, political autonomy and self-determination within the Nigerian federation.

“Niger Deltans want to control their God given resources in their backyard, we are denied, yet we suffer from pollution, environmental hazards, oil spillages arising from its operations, and that is the reason why peace became elusive in the region.

“Our people sleep and wake up with the feeling of been deprived and marginalized and that has continued to fuel their anger against the federal government and its oil agents.

Peretubo was emphatic that if the federal government had responded positively, the region would enjoy peace, while failure of successive recommendations from conferences has made the issues lingered this long.

“The reason why a cross section of the Niger Delta people is cynical to dialogue is because of the unwillingness of the past Governments to implement the recommendations of the various Commissions of Inquiries they set up.

He noted that the present government must move beyond genuflecting around the issues, and engaged the people with view to march words with action.

“All that the Government need to bring peace to the region is to adopt and address the 16 point demands of PANDEF.”

“You cannot talk about peace in the region when the vexed issues have not been addressed. Peretubo enjoined the government to see through, that oil multinationals relocate their headquarters to the region.

To this end, the IYC President noted that they remain resolute over the ultimatum given to oil firms to comply with the relocation order, we shall embark on protest to strengthen our position and grievances as soon as the 90 days elapse.