After the amalgamation of the Nigerian State in 1914 and the very day crude oil was discovered in a large commercial quantity and quality in the rural community of Oloibiri in present day Bayelsa State of Niger Delta Region: Peaceful co-existence and harmony eluded us. It ushered in violence, inter and intra-Communal conflicts, hate, underdevelopment, poverty, ecological damage, youths restiveness and neglect became normal way of live in the communities where these rare natural resources were deposited by nature.
The NIGER DELTA PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT also observed that, over the years, our resources have been used to sustain the political administrative live wire of Nigeria to the exclusion of the region. It is worthy of note that, Niger Delta witnessed the emergence of very great and prominent sons and daughters, who effortlessly without recourse to violence agitated for regional transformation and human capacity development. They were coordinated, peaceful, wise and had the people's plight as their driving force and source of inspiration.
Regrettably, in this present dispensation of agitation, the offspring of various militant groups incoherently claiming to represent the yearnings and aspirations of the people without proof of interest, is rather repulsive and a total mistake. How can they claim to be fighting for the generality of the region when they are advertently pulling the people and the environment into irrevocable poverty and degradation? They can not achieve secession with a ghost region, are they seceding without people?. Brothers, it is time for sober reflection on your destructive activities. The Nigerian State will remain one indivisible entity.
Yes, The NIGER DELTA PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT concur that, successive governments had been grossly unfair to the people of the region. But, it will only be fair enough, if our brothers with arms give the present administration a chance to right the wrongs of past administrations. The recent launch to implement the UNEP report on the clean up of Ogoni land is a major heart soothing step towards the transformation of the entire region. The NDPM therefore, urge our brothers in arms-struggle to support our brother from another womb to remedy the age-long devastation against our people and environment by every means legally possible within the ambit of good governance.
Finally, the NDPM National Coordinator, Dame Ibifuro Thompson Tatua, wishes to draw the attention of our brothers that, justice is found within the structure of constructive and non-voilent agitation, rather than the decision to mobilise bombs, guns, missiles to intimidate, torture, maim, victimize and bombard the same people you claim to be agitating for. If you do not obliterate your harmful method of agitation, then we have everything to lose.
The NDPM say with all empathy, crude oil is not a curse on us, please stop destroying our lands and people.
Signed :
Rowland Orlu
Director of Communication
NIGER DELTA PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT
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