Niger Delta: Engage Uduaghan to end militancy, Group tells Buhari

Following the seeming lull hovering over the proposed dialogue between militants and the Federal Government and the recent renewed destruction of the nation’s oil and gas assets in the Niger Delta region, a group has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to swiftly secure the services of immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan to end the impasse.

The group, the Niger-Delta Deliberators (NDD), comprising professionals and community leaders from the Niger-Delta region, opined that the former governor understands the psyche and cognitive worldview of youths of the region as well as the terrain.

Coordinator of the group, Ken Okorodas, from Bayelsa State and the Publicity Secretary, Donald Igudia from Delta State, in a statement jointly signed, pleaded with Buhari to seek the help of Uduaghan if he must arrest the spate of bombings of oil and gas facilities.

According to them, Uduaghan’s persistent engagements of militants and his ability to engender peace on several occasions as Secretary to State Government and governor yielded immense results in the past.

The group added that at the risk of patronising the FG, Uduaghan should be appointed as leader of the Federal Government committee that would spearhead the dialogue process on the Niger Delta crisis.

Describing the move as a sure way the Federal Government can salvage the bleeding oil and gas industry, the group urged the former governor not to renege in rendering service to the region and the country through his wealth of experience.

They further advised the people of Delta South Senatorial District of Delta State to project and support Uduaghan to for Senate come 2019, adding that President Buhari’s corruption war should be supported by Nigerians especially people of the Niger Delta region which developmental setback was at the instance of corruption.