A GROUP, Political Watchdog of Nigeria (POWAN), has condemned renewed calls for violence in the oil-rich region by some self-acclaimed agitators from the Niger Delta area, alleging that the ambition of such persons was for personal aggrandisement rather bringing development to the region.

The group, which lauded the philosophy of the famous Ogoni nine, led by the late Ken Saro-Wiwa and that of their predecessor, Isaac Boro, specifically criticised the leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF), Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, who they alleged pretends to be fighting for the people.

In a statement issued in Benin City, President of POWAN, Mr. Curtis Ugbo, said prior to the Presidency of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the agitation campaign for resource control was at its peak and was spearheaded by the likes of Asari-Dokubo, Ledum Mitee, Edwin Clark and others but said he was surprised that some of these persons became spokespersons to the government and jettisoned the issue of resource control which was not eventually addressed by Jonathan.

According to the statement: “Before Goodluck Ebele Jonathan became the President of Nigeria, the Niger Delta struggle was at the peak and resource control agitation was very high. The likes of Ankio Briggs, Asari-Dokubo, Opunabo Nko’Tariah, Ledum Mitee, Edwin Clark and so on were always on television telling Nigerians and the world how the South-South had been marginalised by the North and the West despite her oil. By divine and metaphysical error and act, Goodluck Jonathan from the South-South became the President of Nigeria after President Umaru Yar’Adua’s death in 2009.

“His emergence came as a joyous daybreak to end our age-long marginalisation. There was a beacon light of hope for my region. Immediately, the Niger Delta struggle stumbled and died or gone comatose. Some of the Niger Delta activists became Jonathan’s spokespersons and abandoned the struggle. In 2011, Nigerians – Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Christians and Muslims – voted massively for Jonathan Ebele Goodluck.

“The need for constant electricity, portable water, good health facilities, good road network and massive manpower development went into oblivion. Even the recent Ogoni UNEP report that would have changed the lives of an average Ogoni man was not implemented by their regional brother, the President, who played a major role in the problem with Amaechi.

Ugbo singled out “Saro-Wiwa, Isaac Boro and others, who he said, actually fought for the well-being of the people as they refused kick-back and agitated for basic amenities for their people, saying that today, the struggle is glamour as people collect money and embezzle it.

He stated that Ijaw people have land but they rather prefer to build schools in Benin Republic.

The group, therefore, cautioned those who are being called to take up arms and go back to the creeks to first of all demand accountability from the so-called freedom-fighters before embarking on such mission.