Niger Delta Youth Summit "The Militants"

Vanguard 5 October 2006
Youth leaders propose 12-point solution for N-Delta crisis
By Emma AmaizePosted to the Web: Thursday, October 05, 2006
WARRI—YOUTH leaders from Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states have suggested a 12-point action-plan for peace and development, which they believed would end the unrest in the volatile Niger-Delta region if faithfully implemented by the government.
Top on the agenda of the recognized youth leaders who gathered under the auspices of the Academic Associates PeaceWorks for a three-day brainstorming session on the way out of the Niger-Delta crisis, dubbed “Niger-Delta Youth Summit” at Songhai Delta, Amukpe, Delta state is that former militants should be integrated into the State Security Service (SSS), police, army and arms of the security forces as part of a good disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process.
Yesterday’s closing session during which the communiqué was read was attended by the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Director of State Security Service (SSS) in Delta state, Mr. Adebayo Babalola and other top government officials. Dr. Uduaghan in his brief address extended the appreciation of Governor James Ibori to those who attended the meeting, assuring that the state government was prepared to implement its own part of the 12-point peace and development agenda.
According to the youth leaders in the communiqué: “We (Niger-Delta youths) wish to be professionally trained as coastal guards and pipeline surveillance community groups and in return, we will guarantee the safety of pipelines and facilities in our particular areas”.They said: “We, as stakeholders are best placed to provide local security, thus enabling a reduction of the military presence in the Niger-Delta, which is offensive and often provokes confrontation between the soldiers and the local communities”. The participants seriously frowned at what they described as “Encouraged Corruption” by individuals in government and companies, which has led to the dislocation of the social fabric. One of the examples they cited was the role of some government officials in paying ransom to hostage takers, making it a profit making activity. They demanded that the culprits should be investigated and made to face the music. In the spirit of the much needed peace and development in the region, however, they re-affirmed their commitment to peace and security provided that the government and the oil companies demonstrate sufficient political will and loyalty to the development of the region. “We condemn in its entirety the nascent act of hostage taking in the region and opine that the criminal act is fallout of the many years of injustice visited on the people and frustration associated with it. “We strongly advocate for increased consultation by the government, companies, NDDC and other interventionist agencies with the communities. It is only when people own their development that it can succeed”, they said. Other resolutions contained in the communiqué were that the youths of the region would want to participate in the election of their leaders, monitoring the execution of free elections and the performance of those elected, and so, would not want to be used by politicians as thugs and assailants; increased opportunities should be provided to the Niger-Delta people to participate in the oil and gas industry through crude oil export, product lifting, licensed oil bunkering, oil blocks and marginal fields, location and contract jobs. The youth leaders insisted that the Federal Government has the responsibility and the constitutional power to curb the flow of illegal weapons into Nigeria , adding, “The political will to address this issue will reduce the influx of arms and increase the security of the Niger Delta region”. According to the communiqué: “Serious job training and job creation opportunities should be undertaken for the Niger-Delta youth as too many initiatives by state governments, oil companies, NDDC and other government agencies have been hijacked y politicians or company staff for their own selfish interests”. “The Petroleum Techonology Development Funds (PTDF) is meant for the training of Nigerians, Niger-Deltans in particular. We, therefore, demand that the gross looting and mismanagement of PTDF and other such agencies be investigated and culprits brought to book”, they said. “INEC”, according to them, “should find a solution to the lack of political participation of certain groups, especially the Ijaw of Warri South West local government. This will ensure the positive participation, rather than disruption of the electoral process”. Already, a seven-man working committee has been put in place to liaise with the different relevant government agencies, oil companies and interventionist agencies to ensure effective implementation. Present at yesterday’s closing ceremony were representatives of the Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities (FNDIC) including, Mr. Dan Ekpebide and Mr. Kingsley Otuaro; Okerenkoko community leader, Prince Clement Bebenimibo, Mr. Hendrix Opukeme, Mr. Dennis Otuaro and a host of others.