Niger Delta monarchs meets Kachikwu reel out conditions for peace
NAN; The Niger Delta Coastal States Monarchs on Thursday named six conditions for the federal Government to enable peace be sustained in the region.
Chief Williston Okirika, Bolowei of Gbaramatu kingdom read out the conditions on behalf of the chiefs when they visited the Minister of State for petroleum, Dr Ibe kachikwu, on Thursday.
“We wish to state here that as a matter of urgency, the Federal government should appoint or constitute a federal government dialogue team.
“Release of 10 innocent school children arrested by the Nigerian Army on May 28th in Oporoza and others in detention on trumped up charges.
“Return of the golden sword, being the symbol of Authority of the gbaramato traditional institution,” he said
Other conditions, he said, include return of the three traditional council speed boats in custody of the Nigerian army.
He added there must be cessation of hostilities perpetrated by the military in the Niger Delta Region.
“Equally important, the federal government should make a categorical statement about the opening of the maritime University- Okerenkoko, Delta State for academic activities in 2016 /2017 session,” he said
He assured that the monarch would continue to support every effort that would help bring peace and sanity in the region.
Responding, Kachikwu commended the monarchs for the visit and said that restoring peace in the region was imperative.
He said the ceasefire announced by the Niger Delta Avengers was a welcome development and added that every effort must be made to sustain it.
He said that it was unfortunate that after the announcement it was heard that pipeline in Nembe community was vandilsed and the country lost about 150 barrels of oil and a high quantity of gas.
“This inability to stay steadfast creates military intervention because government cannot seat down and watch production go down.
“The president has shown a lot of patience and believed that engaging the communities is the best model.
“You should continue to reach out to others to ensure total cease fire because as production goes down it affects both states in tackling the financial burdens,” he said
Kachikwu said that federal government had spent about 40 billion dollars in refurbishing the region in the last 10 years.
He said that there was the need for the money to be applied in the proper way to ensure development.
He urged the people and royal father’s to ensure that money were channeled in the proper way for the region.
The government, he explained, was ready to always support a positive course for the region as it had lost 50 per cent of its revenue to drop in oil price and worsen by militants operations.
Presently, production has reduced from 1.6 million barrel per day to 1.4 billion, may translate to 60 per cent down in revenue generation.
