A Senior Advocate of Niger Delta (SAND) Rev. Dr. Sokari Soberekon has said that the Niger Delta Avengers Militant Group (Agitators) are doing the right thing in the wrong way.
He therefore calls for the agitators to stop their destructive tendencies so as to dialogue with the government at the centre, because what they are destroying are Niger Delta properties, which we shall inherit when Niger Delta Independence is granted peacefully.
The Niger Delta social human rights crusader further said that the suffering masses are the people of the Niger Delta they are avenging for.
The activist and Cleric also called on the Federal Government and Africa Union (AU), United Nations to intervene with relief materials with the view of curbing the issues of injustice and oppression in the oil producing Niger Delta.
Speaking further, Rev. Soberekon commended President Buhari led Federal Government for withdrawing Soldiers in the Niger Delta as he urged him earlier to dialogue with the aggrieved Niger Delta agitators, which was published in the Weekly Star, May 30th to June 6, 2006 edition.
According to the untiring Niger Delta Cleric, human rights agitator, resource control is the solution or tax free 50% oil derivation, National Conference of 2014, implementation and the request of the Niger Delta Avengers are the key solutions to ending the crisis in the boiling Niger Delta Region.
The elderly Cleric admonished that all Niger Delta elected senators and members of the Federal House of Representatives, no matter the political party they belong to come home (boycott) the Senate and Reps, if they love the people they represent and to prove that they are not serving their selfish interest, so that we can sit at the round table to have a meeting at Oloibiri, Bayelsa State or Boro Park, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Calabar, Cross River State and Warri in Delta State for us to have referendum with the Federal Government on how to set the Ijaw Niger Delta free. This is one of the weapons of non violent and non cooperation.
He further said that we are not secceeding, “secession is a criminal act”. Federal Government can dialogue with us as to grant our freedom; according to Sir (Lord) Frederick Lugard’s Amalgamation “Order” 1914, we are free to go after 100 years 1914 – 2014. When Nigeria asked for independence from Britain, crime was not committed and it was granted with no bloodshed. Now the Ijaw of Niger Delta want independent. Now grant Igbo’s Biafra or any other name they may like to answer and in Yoruba’s Oduduwa Republic, I urge President Buhari to release Nnamdi Kalu who is fighting for the freedom of the Ibos Nation of the Ibiafrans. Except if any other crime he committed. President Buhari may be the last President as Sir James Robinson was the Last Colonial Governor General of Nigeria when we gain our Independent in 1960; I was among the youths that saw him off at Apapa Wharf Lagos.
Soberekon stressed that since January, 15, 1956 oil was found in Oloibiri in the old Rivers State, Ijaw of Niger Delta has nothing to show for it, rather the people were blessed with poverty and untold hardship, adding that if the Ijaws of Niger Delta are set free without oil, Ijaw is capable of sustaining self, like the Norwegians in Oslo sustaining their economy with fish.
The 74 year old Soberekon in-lamentation said, “Enough is enough” in finality, which is detrimental to the people and interest of the Ijaw’s Niger Delta. This is one of the weapons of non violence and non co-operation.
Please legalize the so called illegal refineries to operate in order to cut down the cost of fuel in the area. “No subsides required”. Why must oil producing Niger Delta pay the same price with other parts of Nigeria?
Rev. Dr. Sokari Soberekon has already in January 11, 1981 Sunday Tide cried fowl on the increase of the price of fuel.
But now they should pay what President Buhari wants them to pay, but Niger Delta people should be left out of it. First protested in 1981 when it was increased to l5kobo with a suicide threat, but now I beg you (President Buhari) to leave us (Niger Delta People) out of the increase in price, by granting us freedom the self government of the oil producing Niger Delta.
“Secession is criminal”, we are asking for independence.
Education
With due respect to our hard working Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State I request your office to please turn the Ken Saro Wiwa Rives State Polytechnic to a University with its law faculty sited at Degema which was previously located there by our Former Honourable Governor Fidelis Oyakilome. Education moves the people forward, Niger Delta must go forward. The Lord Almighty will save us Amen.
He also called for the establishment of a Market Management Board in Rivers State sequel to the past experiences of markets getting burnt yearly. By so doing the board would be able to check mate what is happening in the market. ###
