Follow Us on Google
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has replied former governor of Zamfara State, Sani Yerima, who demanded that President Bola Tinubu negotiate with terror gangs operating in Zamfara State and other parts of the North-West of the country.
He particularly knocked Yerima for equating ex-agitators in the Niger Delta to “blood sucking bandits” in the north, describing the comparison as obnoxious and criminal.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the elder statesman took exception to the positionsof Yerima, and that of Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Shiekh Ahmad Gumi, who both argued for the Federal Government to grant amnesty to bandits in the North West just as it was done to the Niger Delta militants.
“My first reaction to those who compare the murderous blood sucking bandits from the northern part of the country with the legitimate agitators from the Niger Delta is that of pity at their ignorance on national affairs, and myopicism.”
Clark, who commended the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) for condemning Yerima’s advice also regretted what he described as unfortunate statement credited to the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who suggested a second look at the Niger Delta Amnesty programme because it has created an avenue to re-organise and launch attacks on defenceless citizens.
“The statement of the Chief of Army Staff comes across to me as a proposal for the scrapping of the amnesty granted to legitimate agitators for a better life and environment by the Niger Delta youths.”
Clark warned against such move as he noted that it could open up fresh crisis in the region. He said while the ex-agitators had legitimate reasons, the marauding bandits have no justifiable reason to fight the Nigerian state.
He outlined the gains of the Niger Delta Amnesty which he said has led to increase in the national revenue, stressing that but for the Amnesty the country’s oil production would have dipped.
He also alleged that the current criminality in the oil rich Niger Delta is orchestrated by military personnel posted to that area. He therefore urged President Bola Tinubu not to scrap amnesty. He also urged the president to remove the appellation of Interim Administrator, saying it is causing agitation amongst the Youth as it gives the impression that the programme would soon be scrapped.
