From Tony John, Port Harcourt
A Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators (CNDA) has ordered northerners residing in the region to leave before October 1, 2017, or face the consequences.
This latest threat came few days after the coalition handed down an ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding return of oil blocks owned by the northerners to the region.
The coalition is made up of nine groups, including Niger Delta Warriors, Niger Delta Volunteers (NDV), Niger Delta Watchdogs (NDW), Niger Delta Peoples Fighters (NDPF), Bakassi Freedom Fighters (BFF), Niger Delta Movement for Justice (NDMJ), Niger Delta Fighters Network (NDFN), Niger Delta Freedom Mandate (NDFM) and Niger Delta Development Network (NDDN).
Spokespersons of the groups, including General John Duku (NDW) and convener, CNDA, General Ekpo Ekpo (NDV), General Osarolor Nedam (NDW), Major General Henry Okon Etete (NDPF), Major General Asukwo Henshaw (BFF), Major General Ibinabo Horsfall (NDMJ), Major General Duke Emmanson (NDFN), Major General Inibeghe Adams (Niger NDFM) and Major General Ibinabo Tariah (NDDN), in a statement yesterday alleged that security agencies of being privy to the quit notice to the South Easterners by Arewa youths.
Also, the agitators accused security agencies of complacency, and added that they are prepared to declare Sovereign Republic of Niger Delta on October 1.
“As follow up to our previous press release, a joint meeting between CNDA and youth leaders across the Niger Delta region held in Port Harcourt, yesterday, to review the state of Nigeria, the position of Niger Delta in the Nigerian state, after hours of deliberation; we hereby resolved as follows:
“All northerners living in Niger Delta has been given three months notice to quit the Niger Delta before October 1, 2017.
We still stand by our previous decisions, and we demand immediate return of oil blocks owned by northerners back to the Niger Delta people.
All oil and gas companies operating in oil block(s)/well(s) illegally owned by northerners should also vacate such oil blocks/wells/plat-forms before October 1, 2017.
“We demand immediate relocation of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) headquarters to Niger Delta and replacement of the Group Managing Director with an indigene of Niger Delta region.
“All offices/boards/agencies that have anything to do with oil and gas should be relocated immediately to Niger Delta region and all non-Niger Delta directors/staff replaced with Niger Delta indigenes.
“We are not surprised by the actions of the Inspector General of Police, Department of State Service and even the army, as they were all consulted and aware of the threat by northern youths before it was issued, that is why they are incapable of making any arrest.
“We are prepared to declare the Sovereign Republic of Niger Delta on October 1, 2017, the day of freedom is near. We, therefore, call on our compatriots to remain focused, united and steadfast as the battle is going to be brief, but fierce.
“The liberation of our people and motherland is our target. We shall liberate our people from the slavery of Nigeria and the northern parasites; we shall bring to our people a nation that shall guarantee equal opportunity, justice and shall respect the rule of law and uphold the sanctity of human life.
“We want to sound this as a warning to all northerners living in Niger Delta, to quit our land before October 1, 2017, as this is not just a threat; after October 1, 2017, any northerner found within the Republic Niger Delta shall be seen as an intruder and shall be treated as such.
“We also use this opportunity to advise oil and gas companies in our territory to shut down further operations; Petroleum and Natural Gas Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to warn/withdraw their members from Niger Delta before October 1, 2017, or risk their lives. Our next action will surprise you.
“We condemn in totality the meeting held by the acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, with some northern elders and youths. We see it as a grand conspiracy, any responsible government should have arrested those traitors but, rather turn round to meet with them and pleads for peace.
“Does the Federal Government see people from other zones as second class citizens? Why are they more important to the acting president? Why is it that Nigerian law is always weak when it involves the northerners? We are still watching the unfolding events with keen interest.
“If Nigeria should still remain one, which we doubt, the Federal Government should immediately restructure the country. We demand 100 percent control of our resources, adequate infrastructure development, equal opportunity for all irrespective of ethnic background or political affiliation; adequate circulation of appointment across the geopolitical zones.”