Boston – By Alltimepost.com
Development Alliance of the Niger Delta, a non-governmental organization in Nigeria has called on stakeholders in the region to embrace peace and cooperate with the in-coming administration of retired General Muhammadu Buhari to achieve better results in the development of the region.
The advice is coming in the wake of threats and inflammatory statements by some interest groups, and recent bombings of some oil installations by some militants of the troubled region.
Niger Delta militants’ activities intensified, following the defeat of president Goodluck Jonathan in the March 28, 2015 presidential election.
In a statement released by its spokesman, veteran Journalist, Tony Abole in Benin City, Edo State on Thursday, the organization said the following:
The attention of the Development Alliance of the Niger Delta (DAND) has been drawn to recent advertorials and press releases by some interest groups within the Niger Delta region spoiling for war at this transition period, making such remarks like “a majority that brings nothing to the centre and yet takes everything from the minority,” that they would not allow the continued degradation of the Niger Delta for the sake of Nigerian economy, etc.
DAND is of the opinion that such comments are not helpful at this transition period when the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari has continually emphasized that the degradation/environmental spoliation of the Niger Delta must be put at the front burner in order to recover the economy.
We believe that the Niger Delta region should seek greater cooperation to achieve better results in the development of the region, rather than continued antagonism.
DAND feels that the issue at hand is how to deliver service and move the people out of poverty rather than worry where the NDDC should be domiciled to give room for transparency and accountability.
We believe that henceforth, the management of the NDDC should be peopled by individuals from the Niger Delta, instead of imposing politicians from other regions to run the day-to-day affairs thereby derailing the core purpose of NDDC to serve the people of the Niger Delta effectively.
Therefore, it is time to sheath the sword.
