FG extends olive branch to Avengers amid tension over threats of renewed hostilities, appeals for calm

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November 07, 2017 at 09:49AM
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Buchi Obichie

- The minister of Niger Delta affairs, Usani Uguru Usani, has appealed to the Niger Delta Avengers, to be patient with the federal government

- The minister stated that though he had not discussed the issues of the threats of a renewal of hostilities with President Buhari, the government was already working to address the grievances of the militants

- Usani disclosed that the university at Okerenkoko is already scheduled for take-off, on the orders of the vice president

The Niger Delta Avengers have been urged by the federal government to be patient, as their grievances are being attended to, Vanguard reports.

The appeal was made by Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

READ ALSO: Niger Delta Avengers: I am not the only person having issues with the government - Tompolo

NAIJ.com gathers that the minister disclosed what he had discussed with the president, and also stated that the government had begun implementing the agreement it had made with stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.

He stated: “For a while, he (Buhari) has not been around and there are things he needed to know from me and so I had to brief him on issues pertaining to the ministry, the projects that are going on and other anthropogenic issues that have to do with general matters concerning the Niger Delta region especially, the concerns bordering on who is right or not right to speak for the zone and the issues of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

"All these occupied our discussions with the president today.”

Usani further disclosed that the issue of the renewed threat of hostilities made by the militants had not necessarily been discussed with the president.

He stated: “We haven’t discussed the Avengers per se but it is of essence as the president has always shown indication that whatever we need to and can do to sustain peace in the region, we would continue to do it. You are aware that the vice president (Prof. Yemi Osinbajo) has been chairing the committee that handles the issues they are raising.

“And so, while that goes on operationally, headed by the vice president, the president just needs to be briefed on our efforts though we know that the vice president briefs him from time to time.

“But as per the Avengers issue, it was not discussed. On a general note, it is understood that we have to be engaged to be able to sustain the peace that prevailed for a while.”

The minister urged the militant to be patient, stating: “My message is not just verbal but it has been demonstrated by the fact at all times.

“The government of which I am part, my role as minister in charge of the region, we have been appealing to them to just be patient with us, because, most of the time, the issues that are brought up are those that tend to portray the quest for development of the region.

“And that is all we have been doing; to say, be patient with us, these issues raised genuinely for the benefit of people of the region are being attended to.

“For instance, the university at Okerekoko, you are aware that the vice president has directed that that university must take off. And he also directed that a minimum of N5 billion be budgeted for the take-off of the university.’’

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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that the Nigerian federal government was warned by Chief Godspower Gbenekama, the traditional prime minister of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, not to take the threat of renewed hostilities by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) lightly.

The prime minister stated that the militants had gotten angry because their 16-point agenda had not been implemented all through the period of the ceasefire.

Meet Sunny Ofehe, the new face of Niger Delta development - on NAIJ.com TV:

Source: Naija.ng

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FG extends olive branch to Avengers amid tension over threats of renewed hostilities, appeals for calm
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