Edwin Clark, convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF),
has faulted the comparison of bandits with Niger Delta youths.
Ahmed Yerima, a former governor of Zamfara state, had asked
President Bola Tinubu to grant amnesty to bandits causing mayhem in north-west
and north-central.
But Taoreed Lagbaja, chief of defence staff, said the
amnesty programme has failed in Zamfara and other states.
While reacting to the claim in a statement on Wednesday,
Clark said he disagreed with Lagbaja’s remark and how bandits’ activities are
being compared with the agitations of Niger Delta youths.
He said contrary to what Lagbaja said, the amnesty programme
has succeeded in bringing peace to the Niger Delta region “particularly,
stopping the vandalisation of oil pipelines and platforms”.
“The case of the Niger Delta agitators is quite different
from the case of these murderous, blood-thirsty villains, who have taken up
arms against the state, using different names, whether as Boko Haram, bandits,
killer herdsmen, kidnappers, etc.,” Clark said.
He said the grouse of the Niger Delta youths arose as a
result of “the dehumanisation, environmental pollution, destruction of natural
source of income generation”.
He alleged that the oil-producing areas in Nigeria are being
oppressed and dehumanised
“Our living condition in the region has worsened. The
Presidential amnesty programme should be allowed to continue for some more
time,” Clark added.
“Once again, I wish to advise the federal government to
tread cautiously, except they have prepared another operation crocodile smile’.
Wake not a sleeping lion. This is not a threat; it is a clarion call for peace.
“Therefore, the grievances of these Niger Delta youths were
and still are, against the government, and as against the exploiting
international oil companies which have remained adamant by refusing to develop
their areas of operation, but have continued to fly their people from Lagos to
perform their job at the rigs in the creek, and flown back to Lagos at the end
of each working day.”
He also accused the companies of refusing to develop the
areas and employ people from the oil-producing communities.
“The villages and communities are left in abject poverty and
neglect. The people of the host communities do not even take part in the
execution of contracts in these oil companies,” he said.
“The whole mangrove forest is damaged; people can no longer
fish which of course is the peoples’ main source of protein. The dangerous
emission from gas flaring is a serious health hazard to the people of the Niger
Delta.
“These and more, are the injustices, dehumanisation,
neglect, and marginalisation of our people.
“The attempt to
equate the Niger Delta amnesty with the northern bandits is not only criminal
but obnoxious and unconscionable.
“I strongly, therefore, appeal to Mr President, Asiwaju Bola
Ahmed Tinubu, not to be carried away by various statements by some uninformed
Nigerians that the amnesty programme in Niger Delta has not contributed to the
peace in the Niger Delta, it has contrary to their misgivings.”
He also advised Tinubu to pay “special attention” to the
survival of the amnesty programme in the region.
He also appealed to the youths of the region to “remain
patient and not to do anything to affect the smooth operation of the oil
companies while we continue to fight for our rights legitimately”.
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