Nigeria, August 24, 2016 – The Niger Delta Avengers has said it will support any collective negotiation team arising from Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark elders and genuine stakeholders that will engage the Nigerian government in negotiation with representatives of the multinational oil companies in the region.
The Niger Delta Avengers made the revelation in a statement signed by its spokesman, Brig-General Murdoch Abgbinibo said the composition should also include international mediators with main focus on achieving the short, medium and long term frameworks and objectives to de-escalating conflicts in the Niger Delta.
“Most of the frameworks and objectives are clearly stated in various reports, declarations and recommendations of the likes of the Sir.Henry Willinks minority rights reports of pre-independence Nigeria (1957-8), The Kaiama Declaration document, The General Alexander Ogomudia report, The Leedum Mittee headed, Niger Delta Technical Committee report and restructuring to fiscal federalism”, the group said.
The group said it will reject any idea of ‘the peace of our times’. “We want the peace with honor this time around! Our advice to our Niger Delta elders and genuine stakeholders is that, whenever this inhuman project called Nigeria and her government is ready for dialogue/negotiations with them, this mandate should be treated with that care as driving a vehicle like that of a truck laden with fire”, it said.
The Niger Delta Avengers said it will continue to observance current cessation of hostilities in the region.
“We are going to continue the observation of our unannounced cessation of hostilities in the Niger Delta against all interest of the Multinational oil Corporations, but we will continuously adopt our asymmetric warfare during this period if, the Nigerian government and the ruling political APC continues to use security agencies/agents, formations and politicians to arrest, intimidate, invade and harass innocent citizens, suspected NDA members and invade especially Ijaw communities”, it warned, and that it will fight more for the Niger Delta, if this opportunity fails.
“Therefore, we will give our Niger Delta elders and genuine stakeholders that tacit support to the dialogue table with the government and the Multinational oil Corporations whenever the enabling environment prevails”, the group said.
