No fewer than 30,000 ex-agitators in the Niger Delta, on Friday, opposed the planned October 1 nationwide protest against the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
The youths, in their number, vowed not to allow any protest to take place in the region come October 1st.
The repentant agitators spoke through their leaders on the third day of the stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Presidential Amnesty Programme led by Dr. Dennis Otuaro, in Warri, Delta.
They called on the people of the Niger Delta region to shun the planned protests ahead, assuring that the region’s challenges would be addressed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Earlier in his speech, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, Administrator , Presidential Amnesty Programme, had revealed that the Federal Government has awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the East-West Road to a Chinese construction company, adding that work will commence soon.
He urged the people of the region to resist any calls for protests, emphasizing that the peace and stability of the Niger Delta lie in the hands of its residents.
Otuaro reiterated the importance of maintaining peace in the region, noting that constructive engagements with the government remains the best way to achieve progress and development.
According to him, “The East-West Road, a major artery in the Niger Delta, has been awarded to a Chinese company, and anytime soon, they will resume work.
“The President means well for the Niger Delta, and we must support his efforts to bring development to our region.
“The Niger Delta people will not be part of any protest. The problems of the Niger Delta will be resolved by the President, but it is up to us to ensure our region is not used as a base for protests,” Dr. Otuaro stressed.
On his part, a Niger Delta Leader, Paul Elvis, popularly known as General Ogubos, called for peace in the Niger Delta region, stressing that war is not the solution to the region’s challenges.
The former militant leader emphasized the importance of dialogue and cooperation in resolving conflicts. “Peace cannot be attained in a place of war.
“We must understand that violence will only lead to more destruction and suffering in our communities,” he stated, urging stakeholders to prioritize peaceful resolutions to grievances.
“Our people have legitimate concerns, but we must channel these grievances through dialogue, not violence,” he averred.
A prominent Niger Delta leader, Elder T.K. Ogoruba, urged the Federal Government to address the longstanding demands of the region to avoid renewed protests.
Ogoruba noted that protests have been a consistent response to neglect since April 1949, adding: “We must maintain peace in the region, but let’s not forget that protests have been ongoing since 1949. The signs are clear, and protests will continue if nothing changes.”
Ogoruba stressed that the government is fully aware of the region’s demands, which include fair treatment, infrastructural development, and environmental remediation.
He, therefore, called on the authorities to act swiftly to meet the needs in order to sustain peace and stability in the oil-rich region.
