Ex-agitators threaten protest in Niger Delta over governors’ inaction of N5bn palliatives

Some aggrieved ex-agitators under the auspices of the Coalition of Ex-agitators of Niger Delta (CEND) have threatened to disrupt business activities in the Niger Delta following the failures of their governors to provide palliatives to poor communities despite receiving N5bn from the Federal Government.

The ex-agitators are raising eyebrows that the governors of the states in the region seemed to have diverted the money released by President Bola Tinubu which is meant to alleviate the suffering caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.

Speaking, the Chairman, of CEND, Gen. Gershom Mpakaboari Gbobo, in a press briefing alongside other members of the coalition in Port Harcourt, yesterday, said whereas Tinubu was sensitive enough to make provisions for palliatives, their governors appeared unconcerned with the level of hardship in their various states, EspeciallyBayelsaa and Rivers state.

“Where are our palliatives?” Gershom queried, insisting that there were no deliberate activities and programmes by the governors targeted at providing relief to the people.

He said: “Does it mean that as usual, these governors have pocketed the money? We will never allow it to happen. We will compel them to bring out the money in a mother of all protests across the states. It will no longer be business as usual. Our people are suffering untold hardship while these governors are junketing in profligacy and living large without showing any concern for our problems.

“We expected the governors to have started deliberate programmes aimed at reaching the people with palliatives. We expected them to add reasonable amount of money to the N5bn and float far-reaching programmes that will practically ameliorate the pains of the people. But they are less concerned. We can see what Borno Governor is doing for his people but our entire region is quiet”.

Gershom wondered why some leaders of ex-agitators like the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme Committee on Strategic Communications, Gen Nature Dumale, and the Chairman/President of all first Phase Ex-Agitators in the Niger Delta region, HRH Henry Binidodogha Ekes, had remained quiet over the non-challant attitude of the governors.

“Are our leaders, the likes of Hon Kakas, the leaders of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), who are very close to the Presidency, including Nature Dumale, who is also the Secretary of the First Phase Ex-agitators part of the conspiracy to divert the palliative cash? All of them must speak out against these governors because when we begin our protests we will not listen to anybody”, Gershom said.

Also, the National Spokesman of the Coalition, Gen Ellington Bakumor called on the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Secretary to Government of the Federation(SGF), The Chief of Staff to the President and other relevant authorities to prevail on the governors to release the palliatives.

Also, the National Secretary of the Coalition of Ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region, Gen. Jeff Johnson also lamented the ongoing massive gas export to European countries by the Federal Government without creating the desired benefits and stakeholders engagement among the Niger Delta communities producing the resources.

He said: “If not for the crisis in Niger, we would not have known that pipelines from Niger Delta communities are supplying massive gas to European countries through Niger Republic. The Federal Government must develop a template to accommodate the leadership of the Niger Delta communities and make them benefit directly from this gas taken from their communities.

“If such deals continue to happen without any tangible benefits to our people, we will have no option but to shut down all gas facilities in the region”.