Ex-militant blames selfishness for Niger Delta woes

Poor leadership and self-aggrandisement was largely responsible for lack of development in Niger Delta region, one of the ex-militant leaders from Southern Ijaw in Bayelsa State, General Africa Akparahai said Tuesday in Yenagoa.

Speaking at a one day workshop organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) titled ‘The Niger Delta Youth Beyond the Amnesty’, at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, Mr. Akparahai said the region had suffered neglect and lack of infrastructural development due to lack of strong political will to develop the region by the federal government.

Praise for Yar’Adua

He said the administration of President Musa Yar’Adua has shown commitment to the region by granting amnesty to repentant militants.

“Thank God, President Yar’Adua has demonstrated the strong will to solve the problems of the Niger Delta once and for all,” he said. “I believe the president will bring the much needed development in the Niger Delta as being witnessed in Abuja and its environs. We have dropped our guns, now there is peace to usher in development in the region. But for lasting peace to prevail there must be equity and justice, so we are waiting.” said Mr. Akparahai, who revealed that he shed tears when he saw the level of development going on in Abuja during the meeting between ex-militant leaders from the creeks of the Niger Delta and Nigerian officials at the presidential villa in Abuja.

Chairman of the Baylesa State governor’s Technical Team, Atei Beredugo, who spoke on the theme

‘Exchanging Guns for Opportunities in the Niger Delta’ said the job was already half done and that what was left to be done was to identify and provide sufficient sustainable opportunities to both ex-militants and other youths to entrench the unfolding peace.

He therefore called for aggressive reorientation of the youths, training and re-training and a return to agriculture and fishery as well as the creating of job opportunities in the oil industry for the youths.

Hands on deck

The Director General of the Bayelsa State Due Process Office, Von Kemmedy, urged the NDDC to bridge the communication gap between the commission, the state government and citizens of the area.

The Bayelsa State representative on the governing board of the NDDC, Anthony Orubo, said the Niger Delta is the key point in the federal government’s Seven-Point Agenda. He said now that the amnesty has brought peace to the region, development projects would be executed without hindrance.

“Mr. President trusted the youths and the youth trusted him and the militant handed over their guns,” he said. “Those hands that handed over guns must not be empty, else they will go back to the creeks. All hands are on deck at the NDDC for youth empowerment, skills acquisition and infrastructural development in the region.”

The one day workshop, held in all the Niger Delta states, saw ex-militant leaders and their boys exposed to ethical reorientation and the need for non-violence in dispute resolution