Etim Ekpimah
Thirteen ex-militant groups in Niger Delta have threatened to suspend ceasefire deal and resume hostilities in the area.
The groups, comprising former beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme, said they have discontinued the ceasefire agreement they entered with the government.
Speaking under the auspices of the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators, they added that the move was accentuated by President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to come to terms with them.
A statement dated June 28, was endorsed by leaders of the 13 groups – General John Duku for Niger Delta Watchdogs; General Ekpo Ekpo for Niger Delta Volunteers; General Osarolor Nedam for Niger Delta Warriors, and Major-General Henry Okon Etete for Niger Delta People’s Fighters.
The staement was made available to journalists in Uyo on Wednesday.
The ex-militants alleged that President Buhari had continued to rebuff their calls for the sack of the Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The ex-militants in the same statement also signed by Major-General Asukwo Henshaw for Bakassi Freedom Fighters, Major-General Ibinabo Horsfall for Niger Delta Movement for Justice, Major-General Duke Emmanson for Niger Delta Fighters Network, Major-General Inibeghe Adams for Niger Delta Freedom Mandate and more, accused the President of refusal to dissolve the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission, which according to them, reeks of massive corruption under Akpabio.
The CNDA also condemned the alleged unwillingness of President Buhari to address the thorny issues of marginalisation of the Niger Delta in terms of appointments in the oil and gas sector, especially the replacement of the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation with an indigene of the region.
The statement read in part, “The Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators has withdrawn its ceasefire and demanded for the immediate removal of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as well as the replacement of the Group Managing Director of the NNPC with a qualified indigene of the Niger Delta region.
“The General Assembly of the Coalition also condemns the laissez-faire attitude of the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari towards the continued sufferings and yearnings of the people of the Niger Delta.”