As the people of Niger Delta region continue to await the outcome of the meeting between the leaders of the area and President Muhammadu Buhari, stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State have said that with government’s sincerity in the implementation of the demands, the current unrest would be a thing of the past.

Last week, leaders drawn from the Niger Delta states, at a meeting with Buhari, tabled a plethora of demands that they said would bring lasting peace to the region that provides the bulk of Nigeria’s wealth.

According to Professpr Edet Akpakpan of the University of Uyo, once government can enforce the relocation of headquarters of oil companies operating in the area, which is one of the demands by the leaders, the indigenes would have that sense of belonging and would see themselves as co-owners of such companies; thereby reducing the agitation and restiveness.

He stressed that, as much as all the demands are good, he would not subscribe to government accepting all, especially the demand calling for the withdrawal of the military from the zone saying instead of that, the rule of engagement should be redefined.

His words, “I would not subscribe to asking the Federal Government to remove the military from the area. What should be done is to clarify the mandate of the military. They don’t go after peaceful citizen, they go after criminals; it is only the criminals that should be afraid of the military.

“I give a hundred percent support to moving the headquarters of the oil companies to the area. It is the right thing to do. One of the major factors to the militancy issue is the injustice in the management of oil resources in Nigeria. When we were largely ignorance and these areas were bush, it was understandable that the headquarters of these companies be in Lagos, but after we had places like Port Harcourt, Uyo, Bayelsa, Benin in the zone, there is no reason they should put the headquarters in Lagos and come here and collect resources.”

He further noted that with such relocation, people of the area would have opportunity to be employed and taxes paid to the government of the states.

On proper funding of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the professor of Economics called for adequate funding and urgent review of its mandate, noting however that, the commission should be seen to be accountable by giving out its scorecard every year on how it has expended the resources allocated to it.

On the Amnesty Programmee, the University don noted that, it should not be seen a programmee in perpetuity as those trained in different skills should by today, become entrepreneur by establishing businesses that should be training and employing others.

“Amnesty is supposed to be a short term intervention just to appease people, get them out, give them training, say for two years. We cannot continue with the programmee indefinitely,” he said.

Apparently referring to the demands made by the elders to the government, he warned that government should not look at these issues in isolation but should be made in a package to create the needed impact.

“All these should be a total package not picking one thing and expecting to have peace. Whatever government can do to create the sense of justice, let it be done”, he said.

Commending the move as timely and expressing hope for lasting solution, the immediate past Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Uwemedimo Nwoko, noted that, the bold step was a clear indication that, despite the ills done to the region, they are still ready to support the Nigeria project.

“I strongly believe that even though the demands presented to the Federal Government are in no way exhaustible or capable of completely alleviating and addressing the wrongs and ills done the Niger Delta. It will be a good starting point if the government would promptly respond to them and begin implementing those demands.”

According to him, in as much as implementing these demands is not a guarantee to solving all the problems, such would be a good process to healing the wounds of the people of the region.

To the member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Obong Ime Bassey Okon, the move by the leaders and government’s readiness to negotiate for peace, had always been his advocacy.

“I have always held the opinion that there may be no peace in Niger Delta if the Federal Government does not negotiate with the people. The use of force cannot solve the problem. The people have articulated the issues and it is left for the President to address them. With sincerity of purpose, I think peace could be achieved.”
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