Last week some youths from Ijaw extraction met in Port Harcourt to brainstorm on issues effecting the development of the Niger Delta States excluding Imo and Abia.
Imo and Abia states are not part and parcel of Niger Delta region. For political purposes, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo included these two (2) states in the sub-region of the Niger Delta.
The original Niger Delta states are: Rivers, Bayelsa, part of Ondo, Edo, Delta, Cross Rivers, and Akwa Ibom.
Our correspondent gathered that during the meeting, the Ijaw Youths frowned at the President Mohammadu Buhari’s insensitivity to develop the Niger Delta region despite its contributions to the socio-economic growth of the entire Nigerian society.
They decried the high level of marginalization of the region, adding that because of lack of infrastructural development and social amenities the Niger Deltans are living in abject poverty.
The Ijaw youths stated that with the look of things and the happenings in Nigeria, President Buhari cannot handle the problems facing the Niger Delta region. They described the Nigerian nation as a fake country and mere geographical expression.
The Ijaw youths maintained that if things continue in this ugly fashion, they would not hesitate to pull the Niger Delta region out of the “visionless Nigerian state”.
They saluted the courage of Late Major Isaac Boro for paying the supreme price with his life for the Niger Delta. They expressed optimism that someday, the Niger Deltans would celebrate independent Niger Delta republic, stating that nobody should deceive him or herself and play politics with the sovereignty of the Niger delta region.
Speaking to this weekly, shortly after the meeting, Comrade Iyalla Joe, JP said that the strong reason behind the planned break-out of the Niger Delta region from the Nigerian state is the gross marginalization of the people of the region. He also cited environmental degradation and pollution as another reasons for fighting for the Independent Niger Delta Republic.
“No going back, the secession of the Niger Delta region is already at sight. And we believe strongly that we will achieve it by all means necessary” Comrade Joe said.
He blasted the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC for not executing life impacting projects in the region. According to Comrade Joe in no distant time, the youths will resume hostilities in the region if the federal Government fails to allow the Niger Delta to pull out of Nigeria.
He revealed that they will target oil installations and facilities, which according to him, would have adverse effect on the nation’s economy. Comrade Joe warned President Buhari not to do anything that will bring untold hardship to the people of Nigeria. He said that the time to set the Niger Delta region has come and nobody can stop it, “because this has been the dreams of our forefathers and it must be actualized.” ###
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