The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has urged the in-coming
administration of General Muhammadu Bahari to ensure that the Presidential
Amnesty Programme for ex-militants in the Niger/Delta region is sustained.
The Council expressed satisfaction with the
performance of President Goodluck Jonathan, saying it had concluded
arrangements to accord the out-going President a befitting reception back home.
This was contained in a communiqué issued by the IYC
and signed by its President, Comrade Udengs Eradiri.
The communiqué which was made available to The Nation
in Abuja reads:” We note with satisfaction the achievements of President
Jonathan in his years in office despite the fact that he worked in the most
difficult environment.
“Congress observed that President Jonathan carried out
a lot of reforms and achieved great feats in the areas of agriculture, power,
transportation, electoral process, economy, oil and gas sector, maritime
sector, peace and security in the Niger/Delta.
“Consequently, Ijaw and Niger/Delta youths should be calm,
peaceful and maintain the existing peace in the region.
“The Presidential Amnesty Progamme for ex-agitators in
the Niger/Delta region which has greatly contributed to the sustenance of peace
in the Niger/Delta region is sustained by the in-coming administration to
maintain peace in the region.
“The existing federal structures set up to develop the
Niger-Delta region such as the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC),
Niger-Delta Ministry and other schemes should be strengthened and properly
funded to rapidly develop the region by the incoming administration; address
problems of environmental degradation in the Niger-Delta region including
implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoni and general environmental
remediation in other parts of the region which are affected by environmental
degradation;
”The recommendations of the National Confab should be
implemented by the incoming government to deepen our federal system of
government where the federating units would develop at their own pace. This
would address some of the imbalances responsible for political instability in
Nigeria and the desperation to control government at the centre, and congress
called on the incoming federal government to start the process of national
integration and run an all-inclusive government to address the polarization and
disunity arising from the outcome of the Presidential elections.”
0 comments