‘We need development not military houseboats’

The Federal Government has been reminded that what the Ijaws of Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South West of Delta State desire is infrastructural development and not military presence in form of houseboats.

The Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-corruption Crusade (FHRACC), expressed this worry in a statement signed by its president, Alaowei Cleric Esq.

He said the move to station houseboats in the kingdom would be counterproductive amid the ongoing dialogue with elders and leaders of the region.

According to the rights activist, “The renewed deployment of troops to the Niger Delta region while the Federal Government is proposing to dialogue with the stakeholders in the region is a clear contradiction of the government’s resolve to address the issues in piecemeal.

“The military garrison in the region particularly in the Gbaramatu Kingdom is uncalled for except the Government wants to use force to cow the representatives into doing its bid at the proposed dialogue.

What sense does it make for the military to station a military houseboat at Oporoza waterfront in the Gbaramatu Kingdom?

Those who are desperately looking for money should not use the Niger Delta crisis to feed their pockets fat.”

Cleric called on President Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, order the withdrawal of these military garrison currently deployed to Niger Delta.

He noted that “what the people need is government’s attention for development.

Why not send bulldozers to the creeks to carry out development projects instead of wasting the taxpayers money to prosecute these fruitless ventures?”