Cracks appear in Militants' camps as groups take differing positions on issue of negotiating with FG
Mon Jun 13, 2016 09:25:am National
2.1K By Buchi Obichie
A crack is steadily forming in the camp of the Niger Delta militants, as various militiant groups take different positions on whether or not to engage in dialogue with the Federal Government. This was noticed on Sunday, as one group, the Reformed Egbesu Boys of Niger Delta, unilaterally declared a cessation of hostilities.
Elsewhere, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, last night, raised a seven-man provisional team, tagged Aaron Team 2, to engage in negotiations with the Federal Government. MEND also charged the Niger Delta Avengers to embrace dialogue and stop being stubborn.
Also, while the Avengers maintained their position of non-negotiations with the Government, the Joint Revolutionary Council, JRC, of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, JNDLF, had, Friday, indicated that it had accepted the window created by the Federal Government for dialogue.
According to sources, many of the militant groups had been penetrated by negotiators from the Federal Government; and they would likely declare cessation of hostilities during the week, and embrace dialogue with Government.
Many of the militants were furious that they were being used as mere bargaining tools by some powerful forces have hijacked the struggle, to the detriment of the region.
Even though the Reformed Egbesu Boys are on the same page with JNDLF on cessation of hostilities, the group disagrees with them- as well as with the Avengers- on some issues; like the release of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, and former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).
The Egbesu Boys also warned those it described as old generation of Ijaw activists, namely Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, Ateke Tom, General Boyloaf, General Africanus Ukpaparasia and others, "not to meddle in this ongoing process."
Leaders of the group, General Tony Alagbakeriowei and Commander Ebi Abakoromor, in a statement, said: "We align ourselves with the unilateral declaration of cessation of hostilities on oil and gas assets in the Niger Delta by various militant organizations.
"We are in total support of the Federal Government option of dialogue, taking into cognizance the numerous appeals from both local and international platforms. In as much as we have considered this option, we wish to reaffirm that the Ijaws have never been a conquered people.
"The Reformed Egbesu Boys of Niger Delta wishes to state that we are not comfortable with some aspects of the demands contained in the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Forces as published in the mass media and the Avengers.
"The Niger Delta agitation is not about persons as portrayed in the said publication. The Ijaw agitation has always been issues of resource control and true federalism and inequality where our farmlands have been divided into oil blocks among Nigerians to the exclusion of the Ijaws.
"Therefore, the legitimate agitation of the Ijaw ethnic nationality has nothing to do with Sambo Dasuki and Nnamdi Kanu, though we sympathize with them."
The militant group differed with the inflexible stance of the Avengers on former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.
It stated: "The former commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Government Ekpemupolo, is one of the symbols of our struggle.
"We strongly recommend that a political solution be explored by the negotiation team to resolve his issues with the Federal Government."
For peace to hold way, it tabled seven demands before government, including commencement of academic activities at the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State and restructuring of the Amnesty programme with upward review of funding to accommodate more beneficiaries.
The militant group called for the sacking of the Coordinator of the Amnesty programme and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd), saying he lacked the experience to effectively coordinate the programme. "We, therefore, pass a vote of no confidence on him," the group said.
Other demands made by the group include increase in derivation to 50 per cent and payment of 50 per cent directly to the communities through appropriate structures; release of all persons currently in detention facilities, dropping and pardoning of persons detained and creation of Niger Delta Investment and Development Bank.
It said: "Pipeline surveillance contracts should be reserved for the current agitating youths because Nigeria cannot safeguard these facilities; and the oil majors and related agencies, such as NNPC, PTDF, NPDC and NSPIMS should create 6,000 job slots."
"In conclusion, we wish to reaffirm the Ijaw position of true federalism within a restructured state and the Federal Government should immediately activate the necessary platform. We warn the Federal Government to be sincere and committed to the peace process and to state that any deviation would lead to resumption of hostilities."
Though the Niger Delta Avengers has not reviewed its no negotiation with Government' stand as yet, in the last few days, it has refrained from bombing more oil installations.
Its last outing was on June 9 when one of its strike teams blew up a major trunk line, Obi Brass, belonging to Agip ENI in Bayelsa State.
On May 12, spokesperson of the Avengers, Brig General Murdoch Agbinibo, said: "By October 2016, we will display our currency, flag, passport, our ruling council and our territory to the world."
Not many militants and Niger Deltans share this aspiration. However, other demands of the Avengers include implementation of report of the 2014 National Conference, 60:40 percent ownership of oil blocs in favour of oil producing communities, proper funding of amnesty programme, trial of APC members allegedly indicted for corruption, unconditional release of Kanu and take-off of Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko.
Elsewhere, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, last night, raised a seven-man provisional team, tagged Aaron Team 2, to engage in negotiations with the Federal Government. MEND also charged the Niger Delta Avengers to embrace dialogue and stop being stubborn.
Also, while the Avengers maintained their position of non-negotiations with the Government, the Joint Revolutionary Council, JRC, of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, JNDLF, had, Friday, indicated that it had accepted the window created by the Federal Government for dialogue.
According to sources, many of the militant groups had been penetrated by negotiators from the Federal Government; and they would likely declare cessation of hostilities during the week, and embrace dialogue with Government.
Many of the militants were furious that they were being used as mere bargaining tools by some powerful forces have hijacked the struggle, to the detriment of the region.
Even though the Reformed Egbesu Boys are on the same page with JNDLF on cessation of hostilities, the group disagrees with them- as well as with the Avengers- on some issues; like the release of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, and former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).
The Egbesu Boys also warned those it described as old generation of Ijaw activists, namely Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, Ateke Tom, General Boyloaf, General Africanus Ukpaparasia and others, "not to meddle in this ongoing process."
Leaders of the group, General Tony Alagbakeriowei and Commander Ebi Abakoromor, in a statement, said: "We align ourselves with the unilateral declaration of cessation of hostilities on oil and gas assets in the Niger Delta by various militant organizations.
"We are in total support of the Federal Government option of dialogue, taking into cognizance the numerous appeals from both local and international platforms. In as much as we have considered this option, we wish to reaffirm that the Ijaws have never been a conquered people.
"The Reformed Egbesu Boys of Niger Delta wishes to state that we are not comfortable with some aspects of the demands contained in the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Forces as published in the mass media and the Avengers.
"The Niger Delta agitation is not about persons as portrayed in the said publication. The Ijaw agitation has always been issues of resource control and true federalism and inequality where our farmlands have been divided into oil blocks among Nigerians to the exclusion of the Ijaws.
"Therefore, the legitimate agitation of the Ijaw ethnic nationality has nothing to do with Sambo Dasuki and Nnamdi Kanu, though we sympathize with them."
The militant group differed with the inflexible stance of the Avengers on former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.
It stated: "The former commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Government Ekpemupolo, is one of the symbols of our struggle.
"We strongly recommend that a political solution be explored by the negotiation team to resolve his issues with the Federal Government."
For peace to hold way, it tabled seven demands before government, including commencement of academic activities at the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State and restructuring of the Amnesty programme with upward review of funding to accommodate more beneficiaries.
The militant group called for the sacking of the Coordinator of the Amnesty programme and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd), saying he lacked the experience to effectively coordinate the programme. "We, therefore, pass a vote of no confidence on him," the group said.
Other demands made by the group include increase in derivation to 50 per cent and payment of 50 per cent directly to the communities through appropriate structures; release of all persons currently in detention facilities, dropping and pardoning of persons detained and creation of Niger Delta Investment and Development Bank.
It said: "Pipeline surveillance contracts should be reserved for the current agitating youths because Nigeria cannot safeguard these facilities; and the oil majors and related agencies, such as NNPC, PTDF, NPDC and NSPIMS should create 6,000 job slots."
"In conclusion, we wish to reaffirm the Ijaw position of true federalism within a restructured state and the Federal Government should immediately activate the necessary platform. We warn the Federal Government to be sincere and committed to the peace process and to state that any deviation would lead to resumption of hostilities."
Though the Niger Delta Avengers has not reviewed its no negotiation with Government' stand as yet, in the last few days, it has refrained from bombing more oil installations.
Its last outing was on June 9 when one of its strike teams blew up a major trunk line, Obi Brass, belonging to Agip ENI in Bayelsa State.
On May 12, spokesperson of the Avengers, Brig General Murdoch Agbinibo, said: "By October 2016, we will display our currency, flag, passport, our ruling council and our territory to the world."
Not many militants and Niger Deltans share this aspiration. However, other demands of the Avengers include implementation of report of the 2014 National Conference, 60:40 percent ownership of oil blocs in favour of oil producing communities, proper funding of amnesty programme, trial of APC members allegedly indicted for corruption, unconditional release of Kanu and take-off of Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko.
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