Ijaw youths ask Buhari to implement confab report, sustain amnesty programme
Buhari
• Rights group charges President-elect on pension funds
CITING the need for unity and peaceful co-existence, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), has called on President-elect, Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), to implement the recommendations of the National Conference and sustain existing structures set up to develop the Niger Delta in order to accelerate the economic development of the region.
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Buhari to implement what it tagged a ‘five–point’ programme against corruption to ensure improved governance in the country.
Also, stakeholders in the pension sector have urged Buhari to tackle the cabal involved in the looting of pension funds in the country, and return sanity to the sector.
Executive Secretary of the Legislative Watch, and a member of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Ngozika Ihuoma, made the call on behalf of the group yesterday in Abuja at a press conference.
President of the IYC, Udengs Eradiri, who addressed a press conference in Abuja yesterday, noted that the Ijaw youths, at the congress held in Tuomo community in Delta State on April 5, resolved that Ijaw and Niger Delta youths should be calm, maintain the existing peace and give the in-coming government time to prove its intention for the region and for Nigeria.
According to him, the youths have decided to take this stand despite noticing some “deliberate efforts by the core North and a section of the south west to frustrate the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and force him out of power through false media propaganda and insurgency in the North in connivance with some foreign countries who displayed obvious bias during the electoral process.”
The IYC, however, commended Jonathan for the peaceful manner in which he handled the situation by conceding victory.
Eradiri noted that the Congress and people of Niger Delta will welcome home the President from national service. The youths, however, noted, with sadness, that when Buhari lost the elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011, he refused to congratulate the victors.
“This act of statesmanship by President Jonathan shows the level of patriotism of Niger Deltans towards the survival and unity of Nigeria. We note with satisfaction Jonathan’s achievements while in office despite the fact that he worked in the most difficult environment,” Eradiri said.
He then called on Buhari, to sustain the amnesty programme as he promised in his manifesto, in order to ensure continued peace in the region.
He further stressed: “The existing federal structures set up to develop the Niger Delta region such as the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Niger-Delta Ministry and other schemes should be strengthened and properly funded to rapidly develop the region by the incoming administration; address problems of environmental degradation in the Niger-Delta region including implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoni and general environmental remediation in other parts of the region which are affected by environmental degradation.”
Eradiri also called for the implementation of the recommendations of the National Conference by the incoming government to deepen the federal system of government where the federating units would develop at their own pace.
“This would address some of the imbalances responsible for political instability in Nigeria and the desperation to control government at the centre. Congress calls on the incoming Federal Government to start the process of national integration and run an all-inclusive government to address the polarisation and disunity arising from the outcome of the Presidential elections,” he further said.
SERAP’s Executive Director, Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni in statement yesterday, charged Buhari to take concrete action to combat the problem of corruption in the country by implementing its five-point programme.
He said the biggest obstacle to reconstruction and development in Nigeria is corruption, noting that for many years, systemic corruption had distorted incentives, undermined critical institutions of governance, slowed economic progress and redistributed wealth and power to the undeserving.
According to him: “Today the level of confidence in Nigeria is low but there is clearly public enthusiasm that the incoming government will be able to bring about a society that serves its people’s interests.
“Nigerians have heard plenty of rhetoric about corruption and now is the time to take concrete action to combat the problem.
SERAP urges the president-elect to consider and implement the following five-point programme against corruption to make sure that Nigeria does not drop deeper into a pattern of corruption and impunity of perpetrators.
The programme suggested by the SERAP are: “First, the President-elect should demonstrate the political will to prevent and combat corruption not only within his presidency but also at all levels of governance. His strategy should reflect the importance of transparency, accountability and participation.
“As a first step, the president-elect should immediately after May 29, 2015 demonstrate his total rejection of corruption by publicly declaring his assets and publicly instructing all members of his government to do the same.
“Second, to break through a culture of corruption, the president-elect should not shy away from “frying big fish” including members of the National Assembly and regardless of the political party they may belong. The President-elect should promote and ensure the naming and punishment of big corrupt politicians so that a cynical citizenry can believe that his anti-corruption drive is more than words. Such prosecutions can send a powerful signal of change.
“All unresolved cases of corruption including in the aviation, oil subsidy scandal, alleged mismanagement of trillions of Naira by the Nigerian Security and Exchange Commission, missing N300 billion in the Petroleum Ministry since 2011; and others should be urgently and satisfactorily addressed.
“Nothing will kill public confidence quicker than the belief that the anti-corruption drive is directed only at those below a certain level in society. But it is also important that a campaign to combat corruption is not confused with a campaign against the opposition.
“Third, the president-elect should also prioritise prevention of corruption by carrying out reforms of institutions of governance including the judiciary, the police, anti-corruption agencies, and the regulatory authorities on electricity. To build momentum, the president-elect should begin his anti-corruption campaign where citizens perceive it to be most evident, among others.
Ihuoma noted that since Buhari is a pensioner, he should ensure that the senior citizens are not denied the right to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
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7 Comments
AND WELCOME ON BOARD AND WE WILL START WITH THESE AND CHECKMATING CORRUPTION AND INSECURITY.
AMNESTY PACKAGE WHAT AMNESTY PACKAGE? THE SO CALLED AMNESTY PACKAGE THAT WAS MAINLY USED TO LOOT AND STEAL THE PEOPLE’S MONEY AND WEALTH BY A FEW PRIVILEGED PERSONS AND THEIR AGENTS. THE INCOMING GOVERNMENT MUST MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE PERSONS IN THE OIL PRODUCING AREAS MUST BE TREATED VERY JUSTLY. IT MUST MAKE SURE THAT THEIR WATERS AND LANDS ARE PROPERLY CLEANED AND RESTORED FOR THE INHABITANTS TO FISK FARM AND PROVIDE GOOD LIVINGS FOR THEIR FAMILIES. THE IN COMING GOVERNMENT MUST MAKE SURE THAT A GOOD ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURES ARE PROVIDED TO CREATE GOOD PAYING JOBS. THE IN COMING GOVERNMENT MUST MAKE SURE THAT THE POLLUTERS OF THE WATERS AND LAND ARE MADE TO CLEAN THEIR ACTS AND PAY VERY ADEQUATE COMPENSATIONS TO THOSE AFFECTED BY THE POLLUTION. THESE ARE THE FACTORS THAT WILL IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE AND NOT BALONEY HALF BAKED SO CALLED AMNESTY.
Why could you not tell Jonathan to implement it before his total fall ? He said he would implement it after he might have won the second term bid as conditionality or pre requisite From this statement the man taught he was talking to his Zoology students at Otuoke University He never saw it as open abuse of our right so Ijaw youths should keep their mouth shut for ever because we have seen the breath of change we were praying for and we don’t want any noise makers to disturb us Finally tell Jonathan to implement it within few weeks left ,because he has started appointing persons into positions to complicate things for the in coming administration for example he changed the NECO Registrar which I see as error or impunity Good bye to your brother
Not appoint bt renewed his appointment. Mind u he is still the head of state so why the complication u re talking about. Why all this tribal thing, Is the confab resolution not good for Nigeria. If it is implemented, corruption from the centre will reduce.
My view is that Ijaw youths should stop making this type of requests because the confab report is dead and the amnesty programme could be abrogated. The reason is that APC never wanted the confab report to be implemented.
As for those bloggers who are posting incendiary comments on this forum, my advice is that you stop such posts as they are capable of causing serious social upheavals that could distract Buhari from delivering positives during his four year governance.
All these tribal remarks must stop today. Nigeria is not the only country with many tribes co-habiting neither should it be the country where tribal comments should always be highlited so negatively. I blame all these things on our bad politicians who fail to appreciate that inter-tribal marriages and relationships exist today in Nigeria.
This is an annoying request from an Ijaw organisation,yes, i do agree the CONFAB is meant to give everybody a sense of belonging in our tribalised country.After the confab was complated and submited, GEJ have over 8 months to get it implemented but what we see was paying a lip service and politiking with every serious issues starting from chibok hostages,,missing funds,,boko haram,,power supply etc,now you guys have shot yourself on the foots.This are all what you guys supose to have push for,but instead,it was kidnaping all the way,,arm racketing and unleashing verbal threat all over the places.,,,,,,,,,,the region is now in the minority,,,,maybe you guys will need guns to force it to be implemented,,,,,,,,,,Asari Dokubo ant Tompolo over to you,,at least to harm in trial,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,common fools.
The question that has always puzzled me is ” How do we begin to de-tribalise Nigeria?”
This is a million dollar question that faces the country today. How come a Nigerian can run for mayor of New York , if he so wishes and meet the residency requiremrnt but cannot run for a coucilman position in a state in Nigeria where he was born and bred because his parents are not originally from the state ? In other words he is not a son of the soil? But his cohort born and bred overseas
will have more right than he does on account of his parents state of origin
Something is wrong with this picture and should be addressed by the legislature. People have to make up their mind in which century they want to live and what system of govt they really want
Not that I hope to see any change in the near future . But it amazes me how people can remain comfortable in contradictions..
The Amnesty program should be allowed to sunset and an auditing of the activities and books carried out to ensure that the amount spent (Publicly available information puts it between $1 billion and $4billion) is well spent. To the extent that some of those are in private pockets, it should be recovered back into the treasury of the federal republic.
We the people applaud the positive re-direction of focus for Nigerian youth, especially in the Niger Delta that would stop the bastardization of our youth anywhere in the land including the Niger Delta by ensuring that we replace upward mobility through violence, anarchy & lawlessness, with that of education-opportunities-welfare and development for all. We expect this to be complemented with ensuring that any anarchist is brought to justice based on the law of the land. Terrorist anywhere in the land is already put on notice – Though Ex-President Jonathan could not fulfill his promise that “There will be no terrorism in Nigeria by the end of 2014”, we are re-assured through the inaugural address that President Buhari would. In specific terms, all pipeline surveillance & maritime surveillance contracts should now be sunset immediately (thereby stopping th eon-going process of “theft” of 400,000 barrels per day). Also as we gave a strong mandate on the amnesty program to be allowed to run it’s full course and end as planned by Jonathan’s administration (The individual states could choose to continue the programs).
it is instructional to mention Jonathan’s policy on it:
Nigeria to terminate amnesty for Niger Delta militants in 2015. 2013-09-17 17:12:24
ABUJA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) — Nigeria is to terminate the amnesty given to ex-militants of the restive Niger Delta region in 2015, an official said Tuesday.
Kingsley Kuku, special adviser to the Nigerian president on Niger Delta matters, told the local Punch Newspaper in an interview that the government had put in place mechanism to ensure that more than 10,000 ex-militants would have passed through various educational and vocational training within and outside the West African country before the termination of the program in 2015.
On Sunday, another batch of 186 ex-militants left the shores of Nigeria for training in Britain, Ireland and South Africa, he noted, saying departure of the latest batch has brought to 16,683 the number of ex-militants so far sent for offshore and local training since the amnesty program started in 2010.
“The program would be winding up by 2015 because it has a terminal date. We are pursuing this doggedly. From inception, the program was designed to run for five years which we believe should not be altered,” Kuku explained.
About 4,000 youths have been trained in 2013. “In 2014 we will train 6,000 and in 2015, we will have less than 6,000 to train. This is novel and we do not need to delay our work to remain in office. That is not our vision,” he said.
Out of the latest batch of 186, 60 would undergo a 12-month vocational training in South Africa as emergency medical technicians, while the remaining 126 will be studying various courses in tertiary institutions in Britain and Ireland.
The latest batch of trainees is the largest to be sent to Britain, he noted, describing it as a unique opportunity.
The amnesty program was established by Nigeria’s late president Umaru Yar’Adua to rehabilitate ex-militants who renounced fighting and surrendered their weapons under the government’s terms for ceasefire.”””.
We will review and take appropriate action.