STOP POLITICISING IJAW STRUGGLE - IYC PRESIDENT, UDENGS ERADIRI EXPLODES

- Advises Buhari to learn from Yar-Adua and stop military approach.

-Tells Ijaws to be Vigilant

- urges military to be sincere

ABUJA:  Following moves to end the current spate of violence in the Niger Delta, reports have emerged that some groups parading themselves as elders and ex-agitators are currently politicing the agitations, these group of persons have been moving around issuing press statements, writing to companies and making demands to the Presidency, whereas the bone of contention is yet to be resolved. IYC President has described these set of persons as "Political Jobbers" and advises the President not to give them ears.

In an interview granted Today 5th August 2016 with Engr. Udengs Eradiri, The President of the most prestigious council in Africa, the Ijaw youths council worldwide (IYC), clears the air on these issues, exposing the intentions of these persons.

Read: Buhari gives Africanus go ahead to apprehend water-ways criminals

According to him, the Ijaws have not mandated anybody to negotiate on their  behalf, he therefore warned  those using the Niger delta crisis to extort money from government officials to desist forthwith.

He stated further that, if President Muhammadu Buhari is serious and ready to meet with Ijaw leaders, he will convene a meeting, where issues will be discussed for the achievement of positive results and not political jobbers going after the President for their selfish aim.

In his words, "As IYC president I will not attend any other meeting order than that convened by the president himself , this only i believe will yield fruitful results, there have been too many meetings all in the name of resolving this crisis,  which has now resorted to a means of survival for some Ijaw crisis merchants, they are warned to go get busy elsewhere and not use this current crisis for personal gains".

He commended leaders of the region who have stood strong and kept to the core aim of the struggle since this issue began, despite attempts by some misguided few to corrupt them.

Engr. Udengs narrated how former President, Gen. Obasanjo approached same issue by calling for an all inclusive coastal meeting of all leaders, stakeholders, Governors, Youths etc together in the villa and fruitful results where achieved, he further gave an instance of fmr. Late President, Alhaji Yar-Adua, who despite his health challenges, visited the Niger Delta, engaged Ijaw leaders in a roundtable dialogue and peace reigned for about six years. "Why is Buhari then not calling the people for a genuine discuss even when the oil production is going to zero?" he said.

Reacting to a statement that the Niger Delta have no leaders, his words follow thus; "Ijaws don't lack leadership, the  Itsekiris have leadership, Urhobos and every other tribe have their own leaders including elected governors and representatives, so why all the blackmail about lack of leaders in the region? He questioned. He therefore described the statement, as an already prepared script for the FG to buy time implementing genocide on the Ijaw people and it's environs.

Engr. Udengs asked the federal government if the Ijaws are at war with Nigeria, following the military invasion to Ijaw communities, "Do we have a sambisa forest where NDA are stationed?, the FG  said it has seized fire, why are our communities still under attack? He questioned.

He further blamed the FG for not being sincere and serious to end the crises, " You say you are negotiating, With whom? MEND? Who gave MEND or NDA mandate? The issues of our people have transcended individuals or groups they are issues we were born to meet because of irresponsible leadership all these decades" he added.

He reaffirmed that restructuring was the only way for Nigeria's unity.

He concluded by explaining why the state minister of Petroleum, Ibe Kashikwu was demoted, according to him, it was because he was unraveling truths behind broad daylight blackmail, he therefore warned Ijaws in Delta to know that some people are after land owned by them, and these persons are using the crises as means to forcefully grab their lands in Gbaranmatu, he cautioned them to be wise in their approach, reasons being that the enemies are multidimensional .

He ended by advising the federal government not to be cajoled for the reasons highlighted below:
1. Ethnic cleansing, /genocide
2. Destruction of our communities
3. Forceful takeover of our ancestry land
4. Extorting of money