Niger Delta tension: Buhari not trusted by the people – Orubu

– Chief James Orubu says the issues in the Niger Delta is based on the fact that the people don’t trust Buhari

– Orubu says the recent suspension of military action against militants is a welcome development

– He says some government actions rekindled the violence in the region but the flames can be doused

 

The social crusader and one-time president of Gbaramatu National Club said he has seen a great change in President Buhari’s administration, but stressed that the change is not holistic.

Laying emphasis on hunger, he said: “The essence of the government is to put food on the table of the electorates, but now, there is hunger everywhere.  The Naira has gone down. 

We had just experienced the long fuel crisis in the country. As if that was not enough, the PHCN tariff is going up and petrol pump price had been increased to N145 per litre.

If we have to help the government, the country and ourselves, one way to do that is to say the truth.  For the first time, workers are not paid both in the private and public sectors; business is in a standstill situation in Nigeria; a straight jacket situation if one may say; no investment, foreign exchange is in crisis and also foreigners are not coming.

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This is the situation. I believe the right thing for the government to do is to look passionately at the issues concerning the region and see how to handle them for the people of the area to feel the impact of the government.”

Speaking on negotiating with Niger Delta Avengers and the issue of Tompolo, the Chairman of Ijaw Host Communities of Nigeria Oil and Gas (HOS-TCON) said: “Tompolo himself should make good use of this opportunity and reach a rapport with President Buhari. His lawyers should act fast on this.  The EFCC should carry out their assignments strictly within the ambit of the law; avoid bias, intimidation and harassment. 

Our respected President Buhari should be made to know that it was Tompolo who brought the economy of Nigeria out of the limbo when the crude oil production went down.  It was he, who took the bull by the horn and stopped the oil theft and oil bunkering. 

It is on record that the late President, Musa Yar’Adua appreciated him because of being on the side of the government. But in the process, he made so many enemies who are now against him. 

The President should therefore, consider this peculiar circumstance of Tompolo. The government agencies should stop harassing hig and persecuting him so that he may help to appeal to the youths to sheathe their swords.

There is nothing like dialogue in resolution of disputes like the one we now have in the Niger Delta.”

He argued that the government should have considered the implications of cancellation of the pipeline security contract, opining that by so doing, the Niger Delta youths who had been protecting the pipelines were angered as they were rendered jobless.

Orubu said it is not a surprise that the youths returned to the trenches? He advised that the government should have make some consultations before taking some actions.

Further speaking on the turbulence in the Niger Delta, Orubu noted that though the Niger Delta people are worried that the renewed militant actions will affect the relationship between the Urhobo, Ijaw and Itseki, still, the people have learnt their lessons and have decided to live in peace

He says dialogue is key to solving the issues within the Niger Delta, stressing that the government must negotiate with the youths on one hand and the leaders and elders of the region on the other. He reaffirmed that military action will never solve the problem in the region.

Meanwhile, the federal government and militant groups in the Niger Delta, including the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) have reportedly agreed to a 30-day ceasefire.

This is to give President Muhammadu Buhari time to come up with a comprehensive plan for the oil-rich region, This Day reports.

Both parties were said to have reached a truce last week when a federal government team led by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and representatives of the militant groups, community leaders and the state government met in Bayelsa and Delta states.

A source who opened up on the 30-day period of truce claimed that Kachikwu reached out to the militants through back channels and pleaded for some time for the Buhari administration to come up with a comprehensive Niger Delta plan that would address most of their demands.

According to the source, the militant groups accepted Kachikwu’s plea.

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