N/Delta dialogue: Don’t withdraw soldiers, Itsekiri leaders tell FG

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been charged not to withdraw troops from the embattled Niger Delta region as they are responsible for the relative peace being enjoyed in the region.

This was the position of the Itsekiri socio-cultural group, the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT), in a statement signed by its Secretary, Chief Edward Ekpoko, and made available to journalists in Warri on Monday.

ILoT, was reacting to claims by the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) in the media recently that it has the mandate of all the stakeholders of the region in the proposed dialogue with the Federal Government.

ILoT warned that the Federal Government should be wary of the body, describing as false the claim by PANDEF that it is representing all leaders and stakeholders of the region.

ILoT further asked the Federal Government to ignore PANDEF’s call for the withdrawal of troops from the region.

The group reiterated that the relative peace now being enjoyed in the region was courtesy of the security forces.

The group also described PANDEF’s request, in its 16-point demands handed the Federal Government, for allocation of oil blocks and the reopening of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, has no legal framework.

“The Itsekiri Leaders of Thought and other major stakeholders in the Niger Delta have repeatedly called on President Buhari and Nigerians to be wary of PANDEF as many of its leaders are not to be trusted and are hands-in-glove with the militants.

They simply want to eat their cake and still have it.

A body that will also demand for the reopening of a Maritime University that was never in existence in the face of the law cannot be taken seriously.

The Bill to establish the university has just passed second reading in the Senate.

Neither can any reasonable government cave in to any demand for the withdrawal of the military/security personnel from communities that are prone to destruction of oil and gas facilities as the only panacea for peace as it is the case with PANDEF.

PANDEF is being promoted by a section of the media.

We state that the relative peace in the Niger Delta is as a result of the presence and activities of the security forces and the plea by some well-meaning traditional rulers and community leaders in the Niger Delta and certainly not PANDEF.

“Once again, we reiterate our earlier position that the security of lives and properties is the responsibility of government.

Government does not need to enter into negotiation for this purpose.

This must be separated from the development of the Niger Delta,” the foremost Itsekiri group stated.