The Supreme Niger Delta Youth Council WorldWide (SNDYCW) has described the Niger Delta Avengers and Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) as groups of armed robbers masquerading in militancy.
The President General of the Council, Prince Michael Newgent Eaton who spoke when the council under the guidance of former Senate president, Mr. Joseph Wayas met with the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna, insisted that members of the MEND group and the Avengers should be arrested and prosecuted.
Ekamon said that they were in Kaduna to meet with leaders and elders of the region who have served the country well and want to see that the country remains as one indivisible entity.
“Our groups are not militants. We are here to see how we can build one Nigeria. We want to condemn the activities of the Avengers and MEND. They are criminals. But better put, armed robbers who are stealing the wealth of our land. We know them. We know that some of the Avengers have served in the previous government and they are even serving in this present government.
“If we are given the mandate, we will go and confront them in their houses. So, we don’t want the President (Buhari) to be deceived by their antics. There is nothing in the real sense like avengers. They are playing pranks.”
The President General of the group said that the problem in the region is not that of the Federal government but that of their leaders who have been sabotaging the region because of their greed.
“What is it that the federal government has not done for the region. We have OMPADEC, NDDC, 13 percent derivation, Ministry for Niger Delta, security votes. We don’t know what our governors are doing with the security votes.”
According to him, it is based on this premise that they are organizing a summit in Edo State between the 27th and 29th of October to discuss the problem in the region, adding: “we are here to extend our hands of friendship to the people in this region (North). To seek their blessing and support. That’s why we are here with the former Senate president (Joseph Wayas) who has never been invited by any anti corrupt agency. We also have the blessing of former Head of state, General Gowon.”
Responding, the chairman of the ACF, Ibrahim Coomasie observed that the two regions had sustained a long period of friendship.
Represented by one of the elders in the region, Musa Liman, the ACF chairman said that the forum believes in the doctrine of one Nigeria where equal justice and equity prevail. [myad]
