Buhari Must Be At The Negotiation Table To End Militancy In Niger Delta – IYC

Asaba – The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide has told President Muhammadu Buhari to personally  lead the dialogue with the Niger Delta people towards finding a lasting solution to the recurring militancy in the region.
The IYC is also of the view that the perceived multiplicity of militant groups in the region as stated by President Buhari is not an obstacle to engagement with stakeholders.

In a statement signed by Eric Omare, Spokesman, IYC, it stated that what is required is not just an appeal but for the President, in person, to come to the negotiation table with stakeholders in the Niger Delta region as was done by his predecessors rather than through his subordinates.

He said the sort of engagement the IYC expects from the federal government is a holistic dialogue with stakeholders in the region with a view to find a lasting solution to the root causes of militancy and other agitations rather than engagement with a view to give palliatives to present agitators without addressing the issues responsible for the recurring agitations as was done in the past.

‘’The IYC would only support a dialogue that is geared towards addressing the fundamental issues responsible for militancy in the Niger Delta region.

‘’Therefore, we call on President Buhari to put his appeal to action by starting the process of genuine and serious engagement with the Niger Delta people with a view to address the Niger Delta agitation for resource control once and for all,’’ Omare said.