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Group urges Niger Delta people to support Buhari’s administration

By Abiodun Fagbemi (Ilorin), Ezeocha Nze and John Okeke (Abuja)
20 April 2015   |   10:03 am
A COALITION of Niger Delta Activists, Ex-Agitators and Youth Leaders, under the umbrella body of Bridge Builder of Niger Delta (BOND), has urged the Niger Delta people to support the administration of the President-elect. Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
Ambassador Dibi Yinkire

Ambassador Dibi Yinkire

A COALITION of Niger Delta Activists, Ex-Agitators and Youth Leaders, under the umbrella body of Bridge Builder of Niger Delta (BOND), has urged the Niger Delta people to support the administration of the President-elect. Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

At a press conference in Abuja at the weekend, the Grand Patron, BOND, Ambassador Dibi Yinkire, who noted that the victory of the President-elect was the yearning of the people, said: “We urge all the peoples, youths and stakeholders of the Niger Delta to support the administration of Gen. Buhari as he works to bring tangible development to all Nigerians in general, and to the Niger Delta in particular.

“We must point out that if Gen. Buhari succeeds, we will all enjoy the benefits of his success. If he fails, we will all share the burdens of his failure.”

In another development, the Bishop of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Kwara Diocese, Dr. Olusegun Adeyemi, has urged the President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Buhari, to preside over the affairs of the country with “Godly fears.”

Adeyemi, at the first session of the 14th Synod of the diocese yesterday at Christ the King Anglican Church, Geri Alimi, Ilorin, said unless Nigeria under Buhari should return to the good old days of Nigeria when citizens had God’s knowledge retained at their hearts, the much desired socio-economic developments of the nation may be a mirage.

The bishop said: “This nation needs to go back to the old days of Godly values summarised by some of the words of our former and present National Anthem. These are ‘Though the tribes and tongues defer, in brotherhood we stand’ and ‘Arise o compatriots, Nigeria call obey’.”

Yinkire, who said the group would assist the incoming administration to end militancy, kidnapping and other social vices, said: “We offer to use BOND as a medium to aid the incoming administration to bring an end to militancy, kidnapping, destruction of public facilities and other societal vices that have hitherto plagued the region.

“The challenges that face Gen. Muhammadu Buhari are the same challenges that have faced us for several years – massive corruption in the civil service, failing infrastructure, an economy reliant on oil, insecurity, poor health care systems, rapidly declining educational system and so on.

“In the Niger Delta, to be in particular, all these challenges are in addition to the challenges of environmental degradation, acute lack of infrastructure and widespread poverty among the people whose lands produce the resources that sustain this country.

“We hereby expressed hope in the ability of Gen. Buhari to provide lasting solutions to the challenges of the Niger Delta. We express hope that he will fulfill his campaign promises and in so doing, ensure the socio-political and economic growth and development of the region.”

Bishop Adeyemi, who stated that Nigerians should jettison idolatry and other known social and urged Buhari to form a government that would be dominated by patriotic Nigerians rather than religious bigots or ethnic jingoists, said: “Blessed is that nation that makes the true God its God. We should not turn petroleum products into gods. The fuel has been abused and thus rather than it being a blessing to us, it seems it has become a curse.”

Speaking on the political situation in Kwara State, he said the continuous joyful nature of the state rested on harmonious relationship and giving of equal opportunities to all law-abiding citizens of the state.

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