STATES in the South-South geo-political zone will, on Friday, in Warri, Delta State, brainstorm on the renewed militancy and vandalism of oil pipelines by militants in the region.
Elderstateman and former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark disclosed this while addressing journalists on Friday in Warri.
The Ijaw leader said there was the urgent need for the coastal states to meet and deliberate on ways to halt the lingering crises in the region.
“There is an urgent need to dialogue. The present problem is not Ijaw problem alone. It is pertinent for the six Niger-Delta coastal states to dialogue and chart a way forward with the Federal Government on how to end the crisis.
“Vandalism and bombing of pipelines is very worrisome, because crisis does not solve crisis, dialogue is the answer. We are part of Nigeria and we believe in the unity, development and peace of this great nation,” Clark noted.
Clark, who is leader of the South-South People’s Assembly, said the convocation would attract former governors, traditional rulers, politicians, youth organisations and other stakeholders.
Meanwhile, former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, who also underscored the importance of the urgent convocation, noted that Nigeria belongs to everybody.
“We have been appealing to our youths to give peace a chance, insisting that no meaning development can take place in an atmosphere of violence, crisis and rancour,” he pleaded.
According to him, the all-embracing meeting is to respond to the present worrisome state in the region, adding that “we are almost in serious crisis situation before it gets out of hands”.
He, therefore, pleaded with all stakeholders to be part of the crucial meeting billed for the Conference Centre of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, at 11: 00 a.m Prompt.
Stakeholders from Delta, Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross River are expected at the brainstorming event.
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