A Delta-based group, Foundation For Human Rights And Anti-Corruption Crusade, FHRACC, has warned that masterminds of the recent pipeline bombings in the state will spread their tentacles to other parts of the Niger-Delta region if the military attacks any community in Gbaramatu Kingdom under the guise of hunting them.
While cautioning President Muhammadu Buhari to guard his utterance so as not to escalate violence in the region, the group insisted that those who are calling for hawkish approach to “this purely political issue” are only calling for total breakdown of law and order. It stressed that the peace Nigeria enjoyed from the wisdom of Yar’Adua Amnesty Pact has greatly stabilized the oil industry and it will be unwise for any government not to toe the same line.
FHRACC gave this advice on Wednesday in a statement signed by its National President, Alaowei Cleric Esq, where it maintained that military action to the renewed militancy in the region will only aggravate the situation to the extent that oil companies might not operate effectively.
According to the statement, “The recent attack on pipelines by these same militants in Bayelsa State has supported our position that the military garrison in the creeks will only help to escalate violence. The attack has further laid a solid foundation to the allegations Tompolo raised before and after the pipeline bombings in Delta State. It is expedient that the Government instead of sending the military to maim or harass innocent civilians, set up a body of inquiry to unearth the real culprits.
“The move by the military garrison in the region in intimidating the riverine communities will only give these miscreants the leeway to attack oil facilities across the length and breadth region. This is what is happening in Bayelsa State.
“Comments made by some prominent Nigerians in some part of the country to the recent pipeline bombings in the Niger Delta is provocative and they are adding salt to the injury. To be specific, the comment accredited to Col. Hassan Stanisious-Labo (Rtd) in Channels TV Sunrise Daily programme on the 25th of January 2016 where he said that the Niger Delta Communities where the pipelines were bombed deserved the treatment Former President Obasanjo gave to Odi Community in Bayelsa State.
“Comments like this exposes the plans perfected by a section of the Country against the Niger Deltans and you cannot rule out full blown militancy when the Country is already declared war against its citizens. Also, President Buhari’s comments in Kenyan last week when he was addressing the Nigerian community that it’s irritating for Niger Deltans to lay claim of the oil in their lands is another comment that should be condemned by all and sundry for the sake of our corporate existence.
“This comment which is not only unpresidential, divisive and discriminatory, it was also made to serve a sectional interest. One can safely say that Col. Hassan who is a close confidant of the President spoke the mind of the Government. We are not surprised if the military has declared war of aggression against the defenseless Niger Delta communities as a result of the pipeline destructions by hoodlums now that Mr President has spoken in that direction.
“It is on record that the civil war was never bargained with the oil in Niger Delta that the FG should claim corporate ownership of the crude oil in the region. Niger Deltans were not at anytime before or after the civil war discussed with anybody to give common ownership of the resources in their lands to Nigeria. That is a misplaced comments that should be ignored and it can capable of igniting national crisis. Such should not come from the President who is supposed to be the father of the nation. We therefore appeal to the Government to eschew every sectional agenda in this issue and proffer a robust political solution to the crisis. Niger Deltans are also Nigerians and should be treated as equal stakeholders in this project.”
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