2019: Like IPOB, Niger Delta group says no election in region unless…

A group from the Niger Delta seems to have keyed into using the threat of boycotting 2019 general election as a means of achieving its demands.

It has therefore called on the Federal Government to restructure Nigeria now or forget about elections in the region come 2019.

The group stated this in Port Harcourt during a stakeholder’s meeting that was attended by the region’s states assembly members, ex-political office holders, serving political appointees and captains of industry.

The threat is coming on the heels of a similar one by Biafra agitators, that there will not be any election in the South-East region except the Federal Government announces process for Biafra referendum.

The Niger Delta group, which unlike the Biafra agitators is demanding restructuring, added that the only restructuring the region would accept is the one that will bequeath it with 100 per cent ownership and management of resources in the region.

In the group’s communiqué released and read by a former governorship candidate in Bayelsa State and Founder, Nigeria Young Professionals Forum, Mr. Moses Siasia, at the end of its meeting, also cautioned Nigerians engaging in hate speeches.

The communiqué read, “Over 60 Niger Delta young leaders, including members of state assemblies, former commissioners, government appointees and some private sector players across states of the Niger Delta Region, met in Port Harcourt on restructuring of Nigeria.

“Niger Delta people have unanimously agreed that restructuring embodies 100 per cent control of their resources.

“The young leaders unanimously demand for 100 per cent resource ownership, control and management and the restructuring of the current faulty political and economic architecture of Nigeria which is a source of provocation. This must be done before the 2019 general elections or there will be no elections across the region and no exploration of oil blocks.

“We must go back to the round table and discuss the principles of equity and justice and this must take effect from the highest seat of power to the communities which will birth true federalism in a new peoples’ constitution. As a people united for our future, we must act now. We also condemn all forms of hate speech emanating from any part of the country.

“The issues facing the Niger Delta require both collective and personal responsibilities. We are resolved to look inward and beyond our ethnicity in the Niger Delta so as to build a united region.
“We, therefore, call on all Niger-Deltans to work together in tackling the deep rooted problems facing our people and environment, and define the future of the Niger-Delta. The Young leaders also resolved to carry out proper sensitization programmes in states across the region and promised to engage critical stakeholders on their desire to move the country forward on the basis of fairness, justice and equity.”