The concerned Ijaw Transformation Ambassadors (CITA) unequivocally condemns the renewed militarization of Gbaramatu Kingdom. The over 8 hour long military siege on Oparoza community of Gbaramatu at the wee hours of the night on Sunday 8th May, 2016 is highly condemnable. While we would not take sides with the vandalisation. Of oil facilities in the Niger Delta, we express in clear and strong terms to the Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government that the sending of military troops to the peace loving Ijaw communities is not the answer to the prevailing and emerging agitation pioneered by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
Loading ...The Federal Government of Nigeria must note that the odd memories of the Gbaramatu genocide are still fresh on the minds of the harmless and law abiding people of Gbaramatu kingdom. It is also noteworthy that after 8 years of a full scale ethnic cleansing launched by the Nigerian Military forces against the peace loving people of Gbaramatu kingdom, there is yet a sign of sustainable rehabilitation of the Gbaramatu kingdom. Thus, any further military siege or visitation will only evoke the bitter travails of the previous genocide in the minds of the people of the kingdom.
We also question the sincerity of the actions of the Buhari led Federal government in sending troops to Gbaramatu kingdom in a professed bid to hunt the masterminds of the revived hostility in the Niger Delta especially as this is coming from a government that has kept silent in the face of serial massacre launched by blood thirsty Fulani herdsmen. This shows a long way to prove that the Nigerian government value a pint of crude oil even more than a million barrels of blood of innocent citizens daily slaughtered at the whims and caprices of Fulani herdsmen.
On a conclusive note we implore the leadership and forces of the Niger Delta Avengers to bury the hatchet. We also implore President Buhari to withdraw the military troops from Gbaramatu kingdom as the presence of the military troops will only make the people live with fear and insecurity especially given the preponderance of military bombardment of Ijaw communities in the Nigerian history.
Signed:
Amb. Arerebo Salaco Yerinmene Peters Jnr, Acting President and Comr. Obiri Jonathan
Spokesman, CITA.
