– Leaders from the Niger Delta region have reacted to the threat by President Muhammadu Buhari to deal with Niger Delta militants
– A former provost marshal of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Idada Ikponmwen (retd.) describes the idea of Buhari threatening to use force against militants as an anathema
– Similarly, former president of Ijaw national Congress (INC) Prof Kimse Okoko, describes the threats by the president to militants as old clichés that do not help the matter at all
Some leaders from the Niger Delta region have faulted President Buhari’s threats to attack militants.
The threat by President Muhammadu Buhari to deal with Niger Delta militants blowing up oil and gas installations has attracted criticism from some leaders from the Niger Delta region.
The president made the threat during his Independence Day speech on Saturday, October 1, where he said his administration will not allow mindless groups to hold the country to ransom.
Buhari also said no group can unlawfully challenge the authority of the federal government and succeed.
However, the president Independence Day speech has attracted criticism from across states in the south-south region.
Some leaders from the region who spoke toVanguard cautioned Buhari against the use of force to resolve the militancy issues in the Niger Delta region.
A former provost marshal of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Idada Ikponmwen (retd.), who hails from Edo state, described the idea of Buhari threatening to use against militants as an anathema.
He said the threats of force is counterproductive particularly now when the boys have demonstrated their preparedness for dialogue and given their fathers the power to dialogue and negotiateon their behalf.
“All well-meaning people, both Nigerians and foreigners, including Britain and America, have made it clear that the answerto the problem is dialogue,”he said.
Ikponmwen queried why President Buhari was claiming to be ready for dialogue and yet threatening to attack on the other hand?
He said: “There is need for him to maintain a clear stand on dialogue and let us proceed on dialogue, which is what everybody is waiting for. No need threatening force because that is no.”
Similarly, former president of Ijaw national Congress (INC) Prof Kimse Okoko, described the threats by the president to militants as old clichés that do not help the matter at all.
He however agreed that no section of the country should hold the country to ransom, but noted that an unjust society will hold itself to ransom.
On his part, presiding Bishop of Christian Chapel International, Calabar, Bishop Emmah Isong cautioned that the threats to attack militant by the president is just a self-serving effort, which will lead to nowhere.
Another Niger Delta leader, Timi Tonye, whorepresents Patani constituency in Delta state House of Assembly, said presidents, anywhere in the world, were assumed to be statesmen, who would not threaten their own people under any guise.
He said: “Protests of any form in a democracy are signs of dislocations. Straighten these dislocations and the protests fizzle out. The most effective means of straightening dislocations in democracies are through constructive engagements, which cannot be too much ina democracy.
This is what we shall continue to advocate for Mr. President when dealing with either Boko Haram insurgents, Niger Delta agitators or any other such groups that use violence as instruments of drawing attention to their plights. “It is more effective than issuance of threats. Suffice itto state here, however, that one totally abhors violence as instrument of agitation, no matter the circumstances.”
He said constructive engagements are more effective than issuance of threats when dealing with groups who resort to violence in drawing attention to their plight.
Another leader form the region, Dickson Bekederemo, who is the president of the Niger Delta Security Watch Organization of Nigeria said the president by his comments,has demonstrated clearly his insincerity in his quest for dialogue as a means of resolving the age long issues of oil governance.
Meanwhile, Senator Dino Melaye has recommended the provision of presidential pardon tomilitants and looters of the country’s treasury.
The Trent reports that the senator representing Kogi west advised President Muhammadu Buhari in his Independence Day message released on Sunday, October 2.
.
Melaye urged Nigerians to continue to support the federal government as it tried tofind solution to the country’s problem.
We appreciate you for reading Teeloadeders, but we think it will be better you like our facebook fanpage and also follow us on twitter below.
