In
a statement signed by Emma Evue and Prince Oghene Egho, president and
publicity secretary respectively, the club said the crisis cannot be
solved by use of force but by providing justice and equity to the
people of the Niger Delta.
According to the statement, “thousands of Ijaw have
now been displaced and forced to move to Warri and environs as
refugees. Children and women have been dislocated from their abode.
Even in a situation of war with an enemy country, provision must be
made to quarter, feed and provide refugees with medical attention. In
the case of Warri the displaced people are left to starve outside
without any help from the government.
“This is not the best way to treat our citizens.
For the Nigerian army to now handle an issue involving protest of a
marginalized and cheated people with so much ferocity is indeed sad
and unfortunate.
"The issue at hand cannot be solved by force, it
can only be solved by providing justice and equity to the people of
the Niger Delta.
If the Federal Government today allow all states of
the federation to manage their resources and pay tax to the Federal
Government as it was when the North, South, West and East dominated
Nigeria with groundnut, cocoa and palm oil respectively this problem
will not arise. We call on the Federal Government to go back to the
1962 Nigeria Constitution that guaranteed derivation and the problem
of Niger Delta will be solved.
“The problem of Niger Delta cannot be solved by
force. For a long time the people of Niger Delta including the Urhobo
were oppressed and deprived of their right but we were peaceful
without violent protest. But the government must know that it cannot
remain like that for ever.
Force will not solve anything, let there be
dialogue and let them amend the constitution of the Federal Government
of Nigeria to adjust the principle of derivation, that is the only
thing that can solve the Niger Delta problem. |