A Niger Delta Activist
and Youth Leader, Mr Richard Akinaka has urged the federal government to build
on the successes of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s recent peace building visit to the
region.
He observed that the
existing peace achieved through consultations proves that dialogue was more
effective in achieving peace.
Akinaka said in an
interview on Tuesday that the some mischievous militant groups were making
frantic efforts to derail the peace process so far achieved in the region.
He
advised the government not to succumb to blackmails by militant groups trying
to get attention by derailing the peace recorded in the region
Akinaka, who presented
the position of the Youths in Rivers during Osinbajo’s visit to the state,
noted that the peace tour was a significant step towards the peaceful
resolution of the contending issues of the region.
"The visit must be
holistic enough to address the fundamental developmental challenges of the
region and not be geared towards satisfying the yearnings of a few individuals
in the region.
"It is therefore evident
that consensus building consultation and dialogue prevailed over force deployed
in the first instance without desired results, the dialogue option has returned
peace to the once troubled region.
"He has visited,
spoken and issues raised. If the promises made are not addressed, another set
of people will take up arms hoping that government will come and talk to them.
"The visit must not
be about satisfying the yearnings of few individuals. The visit must be
holistic enough to address the fundamental issues of the region.
“ If that is done,
someone will not wake up tomorrow to burst pipelines as an option to hold
government to ransom .it must address the core issues of the region." He
submitted.
Akinaka also noted that
the visit of the Acting president is good and symbolic and should be a sign
post to peace in the region.
"But times
have come where we should go beyond meetings and discussion.
“Government must also
set its priorities right and do the right thing to ensure that peace prevails,
equity prevails and ensure that the region that lays the golden egg and sustain
this nation is given the priorities it deserves.
“Then I tell there will
be peace." He said.
Akinaka also dismissed
the claims by some politicians that the issue of pipeline vandalism is as a
result of Niger Delta agitations.
" I can say, as my
personal opinion, that what is going on in Niger delta right now with the
bursting of pipelines should not be linked with the region's agitation because
it is not.
“The collective will of
the people is not to go on and blowup pipeline for any reason.
"The agitation of
the people is based on the issues of under development that has been there over
the years. There is evident lack of development and unfair treatment to the
people.
“What is going on
recently in the name of pipelines vandalism for me clearly is not regional
agitation agenda but a blackmail tool to arm twist government for personal
reasons." He said.
On the recent directive
by the Federal Government to the Multinational Oil Companies to relocated their
operational headquarters to the Niger Delta, Akinaka lauded the Federal
Government.
He described the
decision as a welcome development, noting that the ripple effects on the economy
is huge and will enhance the level of development and create jobs.
"This will bring
the contractors, service providers closer and adding values to the people. It
will reduce pipelines sabotage because youths will be gainful employed.
“Operation of the
multinational Oil Companies is about stakeholder driven, and if anyone knows he
is a stakeholder of a company, he will not have time to burst or blowup
pipelines.
“It is very
disrespectful that you are taking my oil here but your operational headquarters
is in Lagos." Akinaka
He also commended the
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu for providing a
platform to drive the peace process.
He equally applauded the
newly unveiled 20-point agenda to formalise illegal refinery operators and
transform them into owners of Modular refineries in the region.
According to him
legalizing local refineries is of huge benefits as it will boost the
economy by making products available to the region since the country's
refineries can't meet demands for refined petroleum products.
"Ninety per cent of
the AGO and Kerosene around are being produced by the youths of the Niger delta
via the so called illegal refineries.
“Government should set
the right standards through the enabling laws and the the Department of
Petroleum Resources (DPR) to ensure compliance." He said. (
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